Category: book club

Book reviews, thoughts and reflections

Online libraries

Looking for a new read without going through your local library? Or want to avoid “the man” and/or your local bookstores? Try Swaptree.

Pretty cool site from the looks of things. Share the books you want to trade, mark the books you want and let the system find a match. You can trade books, music and DVDs.

I added 16 books to my “have list” and it matched me up with 266 possible trades. Didn’t see anything particular I wanted, but I didn’t offer up any of my “better” books either.

Could turn into something really cool though. I’m wondering if there are similar sites for clothes, furniture, toys etc. I’ll be on the lookout.

Today’s random list

a. We fertilized the yard Friday evening. I say we – I mean Laurie. 🙂
b. Mowed, edged and watered the lawn yesterday.
c. Dwight Kurt Schrute is the featured Office character for June on my wall calendar.
d. “Whenever I’m about to do something, I think, ‘would an idiot do that?’ And if they would, I do not do that thing.” – Dwight K Schrute
e. Pagan Christianity? is a real eye opening book.
f. Did you know, realize that tithing is never mentioned or commanded in the New Testament?
g. You never find first-century Christians tithing.
h. In truth (according to Frank Viola and George Barna), biblical tithing (Lev. 27:30-33, Num. 18:21-31, Deut. 14:22-27, Deut. 14:28-29, Deut. 26:12-13) was commanded to Israel and was actually 23.3 percent – not 10 percent.
i. First-century Christians simply gave what they could in order to benefit the poor, the fatherless, the widows, the sick, the prisoners and strangers.
j. “Discovered” a new word Saturday morning at breakfast :: heritickle adv. pronounced: hair-i-tick-al meaning: 1. an idea that goes against traditional doctrine or beliefs but sounds so good to the ears and soul. example: “Brian preached a heritickle sermon yesterday morning.” 2. a doctrinal idea or theology that makes you laugh out loud. note: spelling may very from person to person, but the primary definition and pronunciation remains the same. variations include: haritickle, harry-tickle and hiaritiacle.
k. It’s really humid out today and at 8:17 a.m. I already have the sleeves rolled up on my shirt. Do I really need to be wearing long sleeved shirts to work?
l. I’m planning to attend Theology Live tonight – wondering if anyone will join me.

Homebrewed Art

Chad interviewed San Antonio artist Paul Soupiset for this week’s Homebrewed Christianity.

Paul did some of the illustrations for Jesus for President (excellent stuff) and also shares a series of personal sketches and thoughts he did during lent in 2007 over on his illustration site :: http://paulsoupiset.com/lentenblog_microgallery.

You can listen to the interview here or view more of Soupiset’s artwork here… including this unused artwork from Jesus for President :: (click to see full size)

Unused artwork for Jesus for President

Love is so hard

I’m listening to an interview with Shane Claiborne (author of Jesus for President).
He tells the story he told in the book about a kid in his community who kept getting bullied.
The kid was complaining about it and Shane told him, “You know, now you get to show him what a real friend is and what real love is.”
The kid responded, “Oh man love is so hard.”

Christians in politics

A question I keep dealing with, struggling with, etc. etc., is just how involved should Christians be in politics, government and authority. Should Christians strive to take over the government and introduce laws that support all our beliefs, should we run away into the desert or is there a true third way?

NPR’s Speaking of Faith hosted a discussion between Chuck Colson, Greg Boyd, Shane Claiborne to discuss the role of Christians in government.

“The U.S. currency says ‘In God We Trust’ but our economy reeks of the seven deadly sins.” – Shane Claiborne

The show has a lot of great discussion between the three as well as additional notes and such on their website. Check out the site to listen, watch and discuss.