just friday

Black Friday

just.

don't.

go.

there's no place

like home.

insurance

Saturday we received a polite little letter from the insurance company telling us our health insurance premium will be going up over $100 per month. Anybody else get any similar communiques lately?

hilarious

farts are hilarious.
just ask my 9 year old daughter.
or my husband.

nailing the foundation into oblivion

"As Brian McLaren has said, 'The moment that we have all the bolts screwed in tight and all the nails hammered in, it's at precisely that moment that we cease being faithful.'

"While some look for a firm foundation in a world of change, emergents grab on to a God who is the change. Prayer is a conversation with the Lord, not a quest for answers or a therapeutic practice. The Bible is a companion on the faith journey, not a textbook of proofs or a compendium of inspirational saying."

From The New Christians, Dispatches from the Emergent Frontier by Tony Jones.

google

does anybody know what the Google image today is about? Am I just being dense?

the sky is falling

...so we received a letter today from Fidelity. They politely asked if we wouldn't like to move our funds out of our 401K and into an IRA. I'm terribly lacking in financial savvy, but it occurs to me that perhaps they've had to lay off a few fund managers and they're hoping we'll switch to an account that requires less of their time and, more importantly, reflects less on their "success" rate every time the bottom falls out. Any thoughts from those of you who know about these things?

Africa's Witch Children

This will break your heart. Read it anyway.

Same Sex Marriage Blogalogue

I'm following Tony Jones' Same Sex Marriage Blogalogue with conservative writer Rod Dreher.

more on humility

"Humility about what human beings can know, about the limits of human knowledge and our ability to accurately articulate that knowledge--what philosophers call epistemic humility--is a common trait among emergents.

"This stems, in part, from the acute awareness among emergents that our ancestors were dead wrong about some things in the past. Ask an emergent, 'Why so humble about making strong truth claims?' and you're likely to hear a response like this: 'One hundred years ago, my great-grandfather thought that women shouldn't vote. He was absolutely certain about that, and I'm absolutely certain that he was wrong. Two hundred years ago, my great-great-great-grandfather believed that white men should own black men. He was absolutely certain about that, and I am quite certain that he was wrong.

"I'm humble," and emergent might tell you, "because I don't know what I'm wrong about today. I'll speak with confidence, and I'll speak with passion, but I won't speak with certainty."

From The New Christians, Dispatches from the Emergent Frontier by Tony Jones.

I think- sometimes

If "I think therefore I am" is true, then on those days when I'm on intellectual auto-pilot, am I in grave existential danger?

more addictive than facebook

Puppy cam

all theology is tainted

"... theology is not universal, nor is it transcendent. The God about whom we theologize is transcendent, but our human musings about God are not. To think that our theology is not local and specific is a falsity that has been foisted on the church. Professional theologians, those men and women who sit on seminary faculties, are sometimes tempted to write and speak with the confidence that their theology is somehow clean or sterile or untainted--that they come to their task without any presuppositions, prejudices, or context. But of course, they're just a local as the rest of us. They live in a certain place, speak a certain language, talk with certain, people, read a certain newspaper, and are held accountable for what they write and say by other theologians in their guild."

"To assume that our convictions about God are somehow timeless is the deepest arrogance, and it establishes an imperialistic attitude that has a chilling effect on the honest conversation that's needed for theology to progress."

From Tony Jones' The New Christians, Dispatches from the Emergent Frontier

I was just wondering

... if you've been watching your retirement account ride the roller coaster, selling stocks, or if you've chosen to cover your eyes and wait it out like we have.

Feel free to answer anonymously if you'd like.

humility and hope

From, The New Christians, Dispatches from the Emergent Frontier:

"When we look back on the successes and foibles of the Christians who have gone before us, one thing is demanded: humility."

"The hope of emergents, their ministry, their message is, more than anything, a call for a reinvigoration of Christian theology--not in the ivy towers, not even in pulpits and pews, but on the street."

toys

Now these are my kind of action figures!

a great big God mess

Another quote from Tony Jones', The New Christians, Dispatches from the Emergent Frontier:

"Regardless of the City of God versus City of Man of Augustine (354-430) or the "two kingdoms" of Luther (1483-1546) or the myriad other articulations of a Platonic divide between the things of God and the things of world, emergents see the whole of culture and creation as one big mess in which God is moving."

christmas cookies

I'm offering to personalize the gift cookies in place of "merry christmas. "Hopefully these will sell better than the Halloween pumpkins!

face(book)ing the past

When I started a facebook account, it was mostly to see what the fuss was all about. I doubted it would be anything of significance in my life. I did a little piddling, but all in all it turned out to be exactly what I expected. Then something happened. I guess i have to give credit (or blame) to my old friend Ben. When he finally got on facebook, as he was and is ridiculously popular (sorry Ben), i began to see lots of high school friends and acquaintances there.

I've done the voyeuristic facebook thing (didn't voyeurism used to be considered bad form?), watching as many of them connected, sharing happy memories, etc. I've joined in some, too, but cautiously and uncomfortably. Unlike many of my classmates, high school wasn't a happy time for me and my memories are generally not good ones. I'm thrilled to re-connect with folks I haven't seen in many years, but it's also brought back a lot of not so pleasant sensations.

I'm still sorting it all out. I wonder if anyone else wants to wave their arms in the air saying, "Hey-- the person you knew 26 years ago wasn't me, but this is the real me!" I wonder if anybody else thought no one would remember them. I wonder if anybody else is feeling this undefinable thing that I'm feeling. I wonder how long until this feeling goes away.

what is an emergent Christian?

I've been meaning to get around to making a few short posts on Tony Jones', The New Christians, Dispatches from the Emergent Frontier. You know I don't like to soliloquize, so I'll probably just post a few of my favorite quotes. Here's the first:

"In the end, what makes the emergents difficult to define is the relational nature of the movement. Whereas traditional groupings of Christians are either bounded sets (for example, Roman Catholicism or Presbyterianism--you know whether you're in or out based on membership) or centered sets (for example, evangelicalism, which centers on certain core beliefs), emergent Christians do not have membership or doctrine to hold them together. The glue is relationship. That makes it difficult to put one's finger on just what emergent is; to the question, 'What do you all hold in common?' the answer is most likely, 'We're friends.'"

religion and the presidential election: the more things change...

the more they stay the same.

The Wall of Separation, Christian History

In few, if any, presidential contests has religion played a more divisive and decisive role than in the election of 1800. Jefferson's religion, or alleged lack thereof, emerged as a critical issue in the campaign. His Federalist opponents vilified him as a Jacobin and atheist. (Both charges stemmed from his notorious sympathy for the French Revolution, which in the 1790s had turned bloody and, some said, anti-Christian.) In the days before the election, the Gazette of the United States, a leading Federalist newspaper, posed the "grand question" of whether Americans should vote for "GOD—AND A RELIGIOUS PRESIDENT [John Adams]; or impiously declare for JEFFERSON—AND NO GOD!!!

a truth teller speaks out

Emily McGowin, a young woman from Texas, has written a poignant piece called

On the Evangelical Response to the Presidential Election

"The first thing that concerned me about the evangelical Christian response to Sen. Obama's victory (and even his entire 20-month campaign), is what I observed to be an apparent lack of concern for truth-telling, which went hand-in-hand with an apparent willingness to believe the worst about someone with whom we disagree..."
I heartily recommend reading her entire post. I wish I were so eloquent and well spoken!
Thanks to Traveller for the link.

starbucks and the church, but not the way you expect

What if Starbucks Marketed Like the Church?

via Randy.

there's still time!

In my typically grinchy sort of way I like to note when the first Christmas catalog arrives each year bearing the words "it's not too late!" or something to that effect.

This year that catalog arrived on Monday, November 3. Young Explorers says, "There's still time to order!"

So there you have it. It's not too late. What a relief! Just 52 days "til Christmas, but there's still hope. Here I was about to give up and declare Christmas untenable because I'd waited too long to get started.

oops, is my grinch showing?

grace

Senator McCain gave the most gracious concession speech I've ever heard. I was moved to tears by his humility. That's what concession is supposed to look like, everybody, but I'm not sure I've ever seen it before.

Dear Mr. Dobson

Last week when I read the "letter" Focus on the Family had written about Barack Obama, I pretty much lost it. Though I knew it would do no good, I wrote to James Dobson--mostly to blow off some steam. It isn't my best writing, but I thought I'd share it today, mostly so you could see their scripted reply in context. For the record, I don't dispute the Senator's voting record. I dispute Dobson's deceitful "prediction" based on the typical Evangelical "if we're not in charge then the whole world is going to hell in a handbasket" type of thinking.

Mr. Dobson,

I am 43, a christian, a United Methodist in the deep South, and employed as worship leader in my church. You would probably consider me part of your "demographic." But you would be wrong.

I've been concerned-- no-- appalled at the propaganda that your organization has been producing for years. This current "letter" goes far beyond appalling. Don't misunderstand- I\'m not an Obama supporter. I'm still undecided. But these fear inducing half-truths your organization has been sending out must stop. I'm sure you think that it's your duty to "warn" all of us poor pathetic Christians who simply aren't as wise or enlightened as you. Again, you would be wrong in this assumption. It isn't your duty, nor is it your right to spread malicious gossip- for that is exactly what it is- in the name of politics.

If any of us want to honor Christ, then we start with the foremost law- love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and strength- and follow with the second which is to love your neighbor as yourself. I can assume you agree? Mr. Dobson, how would you like for Mr. Obama to send out letters describing how he sees the future for this country if you get your way in all these thing? I don't hesitate to suggest you'd be offended. You'd cry "outrage!" "slander!" "religious persecution!!"

I don't even hope for a moment that you will heed any of my words. I'm sure you've heard it all before and have managed to ignore it all each time. But I'm glad for the opportunity to speak my mind. I sincerely believe that your organization's actions of late grieve God. They make me ashamed to share the moniker "christian" with you.

Cindy Bryan

Thanks for your e-mail. It was good of you to offer your candid reaction to Focus on the Family Action’s "Letter from 2012 in Obama’s America."

We’ve heard from many people who found this resource helpful; some, like you, have disagreed with our approach. While critics of this document accuse us of engaging in "sensationalist fiction," it’s vital to underscore that we are not claiming to make definitive predictions on what a Barack Obama presidency would produce.

However, as the "Letter from 2012" makes evident, every scenario outlined in this piece is plausible based on recent documented events, court rulings, the Democratic Party’s stated agenda, and Senator Obama’s voting record and campaign promises. We invite you to re-read the introduction of the letter [http://focusfamaction.edgeboss.net/download/focusfamaction/pdfs/10-22-08_2012letter.pdf] which clearly states that we are neither employing unfounded "fear tactics" nor speaking out with mean-spirited intent. On the contrary, we’ve posted a reasonable projection of what *could* occur with a Senator Obama presidency and a Democratic-controlled Congress. Of course, we hope and pray that none of the possible outcomes described in "Letter from 2012" come to pass.

It might be beneficial to provide some additional background on our mission to help you better understand our reasons for engaging in the public policy realm. We have no interest in partisan politics; rather, we care deeply about the sanctity of human life, the value of marriage, and the preservation of religious freedom. Dr. Dobson has espoused these crucial issues since he launched Focus on the Family in 1977 and has always encouraged people to consider them at the ballot box. Despite what the Matthew 25 Network and other pro-Obama action groups may say, we contend that Senator Obama’s record *significantly* differs from the pro-life and pro-family policies that many Christians hold dear. Some may label this "fearmongering" -- we call it a sobering, rational assessment based on actual events documented in the letter.

It might be helpful for you to read a concise summary of four key points that motivate us in our actions:

1) Senator Barack Obama’s record is well outside the mainstream. For example, he was rated the most liberal United States senator by the _National Journal_ in 2007 [http://nj.nationaljournal.com/voteratings/].

2) A Democratic president, House and Senate has significant implications for pro-family policies. _The Wall Street Journal_ has stated that this election will usher in "one of the most profound political and ideological shifts in U.S. history" if the Democrats control the White House and possess congressional majorities, including a filibuster-proof Senate [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122420205889842989.html]. This type of unchecked power, not seen since 1965, demands that voters critically examine the policies advocated by the Democratic Party.

3) Senator Obama’s commitment to causes championed by extreme liberal groups such as Planned Parenthood Action Fund and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), both of which have endorsed him, are a source of great concern. Earlier this year, Senator Obama pledged that if elected president, he would advocate for and sign the "Freedom of Choice Act," which would repeal virtually every federal and state law regulating or limiting abortion -- including parental involvement laws for teenagers, late-term abortion bans, and limits on public funding of abortion. He has also indicated that he will make it a priority to repeal the "Defense of Marriage Act," which allows states to restrict marriage to one man and one woman. In addition, he backs other HRC-supported initiatives including the passage of "hate crimes" legislation and the "Employment Non-Discrimination Act" [http://washingtonblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=20935]. Similar legislation has penalized Christians who hold a biblical view of sexuality.

4) Senator Obama’s stated appreciation of United States Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, and David Souter -- along with his votes against the nominations of Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito -- indicate he would appoint judges with a judicial philosophy detrimental to pro-family causes.

On a final note, organizational endorsements of political candidates wed groups to their candidate in a way that may not lend itself to an honest critique of that individual’s weaknesses. As you’re likely aware, the group behind the Matthew 25 Web site endorsed Senator Obama for president.

Again, thanks for writing. We hope this response has helped clarify our perspective and explained why we feel the Matthew 25 Network’s version of "choosing hope" without a sober look at the troubling elements of Senator Obama’s candidacy is misguided. Grace and peace to you.

Jonathan Bartha
Focus on the Family Action

submitted for your approval

the November specimen

July
September

helpful hint for the day

Before washing a towel that has been outside for several days, first shake the towel (preferably outside) to remove stink bugs... and lizards.

Reason # 4,000,003 to be thankful: the lizard (and stink bug) fell out of the towel before I put them all in the dryer.

That was a close one. Though I rather think the lizard and stink bug got the short end of the deal.