Pattern Building in the Mind
We like meaning and connections, and we’ll sometimes find them even when they’re not there. People who understand this can deceive you. The Improbability Principle from Neuroblogica is a very good summary of this.
Friday Reading 11/9/2007
I’ve found a way to make short comments on some of the blog posts I read, but either don’t have time to comment on, or have only a very little bit to say. The result: these link posts.
- I think I’m supposed to leave more time between agreements with Joe Carter but even though he is addressing this post to conservatives, I think it is applicable elsewhere as well. Television and radio news especially contribute to a lack of connection and actual understanding of events.
- Carl Zimmer of The Loom, and author of many books on science, writes this column on climate change. He explains some things that seem odd at first glance. This emphasizes the need for careful study and examination of all the factors. If you haven’t read any books by Carl Zimmer, you’re missing something!
- I linked earlier to two views on the upcoming movie, The Golden Compass. Here’s another one.
- I want to call attention to a piece of my own writing, as my fictional God-Talk Club takes on the subject of tornadoes destroying churches. Note that this is largely an exercise for me in writing dialogue, but I’m enjoying it, so why not inflict some on my friends, not to mention enemies?
- My wife has a post announcing the upcoming 6th John Webb Winter Golf Tournament, which is a major event for our family, through which we join with many friends in raising money for the children’s hospital where our son was treated. We raise the money for the child life program, which provides games, reading, and other entertainment and support for the children. If you’re within striking distance of the Pensacola area, consider playing. We also take donations. Since the tournament pays for itself, all donated money will end up buying stuff for the kids.
Well, that’s a variety for today. On to the next thing …
My Highlights from Christian Carnival CXCVII
I like to highlight three or four posts from the Christian Carnival when I have the time. I usually do so in the post linking to it (if I remember to do so at all), but I forgot today, so here comes another “link” post.
My first highlight is host Diane R’s Yes, We Can, in which she is saying yes to the possibility of putting the social gospel together with proclaiming the atoning work of Jesus. It’s a good challenge.
Second, I noticed this post on discipleship, in which I read: “A true relationship with the Living and Holy God is not a one-time event or prayer, its a lifetime commitment.” Yep, that’s it!
Finally, Kevin at Everyday Liturgy talks about what it is like to experiencing the world after a reutrn from a monastery. I have a friend who is pastor at a local church who visited a Benedictine monastery, and he couldn’t stop talking about it. Some of what he said is much like this post. I wonder what the needs of our lifestyles do to our spiritual growth?
Well, there are others, but those caught my eye.
Morning Reading – 11/6/2007
I read a large number of blog entries each day, and I never have time to comment on everything I’d like to. Considering how many posts I do write, this may be a good thing. One way to comment without having to write is by linking to extremely good posts, and this morning provided me with some excellent material.
Responding to Torture
First, I have been trying to get a handle on writing a post on torture, with the Mukasey hearings, but I haven’t gotten beyond “torture is evil.” After that it feels odd to be explaining that torture is bad. It’s so much a part of me, that I have a hard time taking it seriously as a debate, but there it is, being debated by presumably serious people.
But Joe Carter has saved me on this point, by writing a 100% on target, excellent post, Our Tortured Silence: The Shameful Response of Christians to Waterboarding.
All I would add is that our fear sometimes makes us waffle on our moral convictions. We must fight terrorism, but we must be sure to maintain our integrity while we do it, or the terrorists win even if we physically defeat them. Let’s be sure we like who we are when we’re done.
Dividing the Denominations
Through an unrelated comment, I found a post on the division of the church, Happy Reformation Day/Halloween. This relates to my own previous post, Setting Doctrinal Priorities. I’m not concerned about their being denominations, or at least accountability organizations that bring congregations together, but we very often do not see the unifying factors, and thus splinter further and further.
What is the Gospel?
Again, relating to two earlier posts, Adrian Warnock has posted on justification again, and after quoting a description of forensic justification, and details of imputed righteousness, he says:
That, my dear reader, is the Gospel. What better explanation of it have you ever read?
Now I don’t have a problem with Adrian seeing the gospel there, but that is simply one way of expressing it; it is not the only one. When we divide along such detailed lines, I see many problems ahead for Christian unity.
MBWR #136 Posted
At Allan R. Bevere. Thanks again to Allan for this contribution to the Methodist blogosphere.
Biblical Studies Carnival XXIII Posted
. . . at Ancient Hebrew Poetry. I don’t have a post in there this time, but that’s not a complaint–I can’t think of what I’d nominate in this case. I will certainly get some blogging fodder from reading the posts. There are certainly a substantial number of excellent biblioblogs available.
Speaking of which, John continued his postings with things he left out of the first one and then a map of the world of Bible bloggers. The latter is especially useful.
Enjoy!
Lingamish Blog Boredom
David (Lingamish) tagged me with a meme I’m happy to get on board with. He asks that I name five up and coming blogs. The problem is there are so many. I’m going to focus on ones that have caught my attention recently. I’m late on this, but I have a good excuse–I was coordinating a conference over the weekend, and then I was recovering from coordinating the conference!
- An Evangelical Dialogue on Evolution is a wonderful blog with thoughtful, courteous posts on the conflict about evolution in the Christian community. It’s been around since May, so I think it qualifies as young, and I would definitely call it “up and coming.” (I don’t know the age of the lead blogger, but who cares?)
- Among the Hills is a blog I picked up from my comments, and then found its haikus on lectionary texts. Since I’m always looking for ways to get people to creatively think about Bible passages, this caught my attention. It takes a bit of thinking to reduce a passage to 17 syllables.
- Come to the Waters is John Meunier’s blog, from which I get numerous links and quite a number of thoughtful posts. It’s definitely a worthwhile addition to your blogroll.
- The Rogues Gallery, subtitled “The Official Blog of the Skeptics Guide to the Universe” has provided some interesting material lately. I’m hoping it will live up to its promise and become regular reading for me. I first encountered this blog when I criticized one of the entries, which is a great reason to list it!
- And last, but not least, a little nepotism. My wife’s new blog is Jody Along the Path. I’m not sure if she’ll play this meme, as she’s new to blogging, but I’m glad to have her in the blogosphere as well as in real life.
Well, those will do for now. Hopefully this will help alleviate David’s boredom.
Mid-week Links 10/31/07
Just a couple of really interesting things I saw, but don’t have time to comment on fully:
- Joe Carter at evangelical outpost does a great take-down on Jack Chick tracts as applied to Halloween. Fun reading.
- In the best post I read this week, Matt Judkins of Catching Meddlers tells a wonderful story of grace
- I could link to a picture or two from Quiet Paths every week. Here’s another beautiful one. Christine also talks about a culture of victimization among the empowered in More thoughts on idolatry.
Methodist Blogs Weekly Roundup #135
. . . has been posted. My post received mention as best of the Methodist blogosphere.
I’ve been coordinating a small conference over the weekend, and I hope to write a few words about it here. I also hope to make some comment on other posts from the MBWR. It was, as Allan mentioned, a very good crop.
MBWR #134
. . . has been posted by Allan R. Bevere. I appreciate his efforts on this roundup–I regularly find thought provoking posts to read and/or respond to by that means.
