Category: book club

Book reviews, thoughts and reflections

Christian is a poor adjective

This is from Thomas:

In yesterday’s Metro American “trendspotter” Marian Salzman responded to the question :: “What trends are you predicting for the next 5 years?”

Americans have become so decidedly religious that religion is going to become a very serious problem between the US and the rest of the world. Americans are living in a country where CHRISTIAN RETAIL is a shopping option, CHRISTIAN FOOD is a snack food option – there’s a chain called “Chick-fil-a” – it’s Christian chicken.

Oh my goodness!

What happened to being in the world? If all I do is “CHRISTIAN” then where is the reality? where is the truth in being the salt and the light?

Reject Christian ghettoes!

I just read chapter three of “Velvet Elvis” last night by Rob Bell and it talks a lot about this.

“The prophet Isaiah had a vision of heaven, and in his vision angels were shouting, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.’

The Hebrew word for glory here is kavod, which means weight or significance.

The whole earth is full of the weight and significance of who God is.

The writer David said, ‘The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.’

According to the ancient Jewish worldview, God is not somewhere else. God is right here. It is God’s world and God made it and God owns it and God is present everwhere in it.”

“But God is always present. We’re the ones who show up. For the ancient Jew, the world is soaked in the presence of God. The whole earth is full of the kavad of God. For the writers of the Bible, this truth is everywhere. It’s here. It’s there. It’s all over.”

“Paul affirms the truth wherever he finds it.”

“If it is true, if it is beautiful, if it is honorable, if it is right, then claim it. Because it is from God. And you belong to God.”

“Jesus is the arrangement. Jesus is the design. Jesus is the intelligence. For a Christian, Jesus’ teachings aren’t to be followed because they are a nice way to live a moral life. They are to be followed because they are the best possible insight into how the world really works. They teach us how things are. I don’t follow Jesus because I think Christianity is the best religion. I follow Jesus because he leads me into the ultimate reality.”

“It is dangerous to label things ‘Christian.'”

“The problem with turning the noun into an adjective and then tacking it onto words is that it can create categories that limit the truth.”

“Something can be labled Christian and not be true or good.”

“A Christian political group puts me in an akward position: What if I disagree with them? Am I less of a Christian? What if I am convinced the “Christian” thing to do is to vote the exact opposite?”

“Christian is a great noun and a poor adjective.”

“I was playing in a punk band a few years ago, and we were playing clubs and bars and festivals and parties. People would regularly ask us if we were a Christian band when they found out I was a pastor. I always found that question a bit odd. When you meet a plumber, do you ask her if she is a Christian plumber?”

“My understanding is that to be a Christian is to do whatever you do with great passion and devotion.”

What’s your take?

Mere Christianity

I started reading Mere Christianity again last night.

In just two chapters I’m again amazed at Lewis’ reasoning and thoughts.

I led a study on it several years back and really enjoyed it.

Some of the ideas/thoughts brought up in the first two chapters include morality and a natural moral law.

How do we know there’s a natural moral law? Who sets the standard? Is there a moral law? Are we born with it or do we just learn it? What do yall think?

I remember a guest we had on Lighthouse21 one night who believed there was no moral absolute. In fact he argued that there were no absolutes. We asked him if he absolutely believed that.

Sure enough – he said “yes.”

Hmmmm.

This week’s column: Prayer in Schools

Ok — everyone take a deep breath. We’re about to touch on another very fun topic — prayer in schools.
I’ve been reading Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala, pastor of Brooklyn Tabernacle.
While reading about prayer, which most of the book is about, a section struck me straight to the heart.
“What does it say about our churches today that God birthed the church in a prayer meeting, and prayer meetings today are almost extinct?
“Am I the only one who gets embarrassed when religious leaders in America talk about having prayer in public schools? We don’t have even that much prayer in many churches! Out of humility, you would think we would keep quiet on that particular subject until we practice what we preach in our own congregations.
“I am sure the Roman emperors didn’t have prayer to God in their schools. But then, the early Christians didn’t seem to care what Caligula or Claudius or Nero did. How could any emperor stop God? How, in fact, could the demons of hell make headway when God’s people prayed and called upon his name? Impossible!
“In the New Testament we don’t see Peter or John wringing their hands and saying, “Oh, what are we going to do? Caligula’s bisexual… he wants to appoint his horse to the Roman Senate… what a terrible model of leadership! How are we going to respond to this outrage?”
The lesson continues, but I’ll let you get your own copy of the book and read it for yourselves.
I’ve never been a fan of prayer in schools — not because I’m not a fan of prayer or don’t believe in it. I just don’t think it belongs in schools.
If Christians are allowed to have prayer in school, so are Islamics, Buddhists, and Wiccans.
Personally I don’t want a Wiccan teacher telling my future children how to pray.
They will learn to pray at home, and it won’t be up to a principal or teacher to tell them when they can or can’t pray.
They’ll know, just like I did growing up, that when you feel the need to pray – do it.
Don’t wait on a teacher or principal to give you permission or set aside a time to do so.

eveningstar@hot.rr.com

Another lazy Sunday

Well it’s been another lazy Sunday at Casa de Blundell Museum. We’ve had no visitors today, that we know of and its been a nice cool 78-degrees inside.

The museum curator overslept this morning, because he forgot to reset his alarm after sleeping-in yesterday.

Wow – two days in a row. That’s wonderful! Does anyone want to supplement my income so I can do this on a more regular basis. With enough regular donations I could quit my job and update my blog and work on my book all day long.

And with a little more income, I could renew my membership in the Belton Lion’s club so I can remain a functioning member of society.

Could it get any better?

Anyways, on to the entry at hand.

I’ve been reading Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala, pastor of Brooklyn Tabernacle.

I’m not sure where I got the book from. I know it was bought at Mardels, but don’t remember if I bought it or someone bought it for me. If you bought it for me. Thanks. It’s a great read.

While reading about prayer, which most of the book is about, a section struck me straight to the heart.

What does it say about our churches today that God birthed the church in a prayer meeting, and prayer meetings today are almost extinct?
Am I the only one who gets embarrassed when religious leaders in America talk about having prayer in public schools? We don’t have even that much prayer in many churches! Out of humility, you would think we would keep quiet on that particular subject until we practice what we preach in our own congregations.
I am sure the Roman emperors didn’t have prayer to God in their schools. But then, the early Christians didn’t seem to care what Caligula or Claudius or Nero did. How could any emperor stop God? How, in fact, could the demons of hell make headway when God’s people prayed and called upon his name? Impossible!
In the New Testament we don’t see Peter or John wringing their hands and saying, “Oh, what are we going to do? Caligula’s bisexual… he wants to appoint his horse to the Roman Senate… what a terrible model of leadership! How are we going to respond to this outrage?”
Let’s not play games with ourselves. Let’s not divert attention away from the weak prayer life of our own churches. In Acts 4, when the apostles were unjustly arrested, imprisoned, and threatened, they didn’t call for a protest; they didn’t reach for some political leverage. Instead, they headed to a prayer meeting. Soon the place was vibrating with the power of the Holy Spirit.
The apostles had this instinct: When in trouble, pray. When intimated, pray. When challenged, pray. When persecuted, pray.

The lesson continues, but I’ll let you get your own copy of the book and read it for yourselves.

I’ve never been a fan of prayer in schools, simply because America is home to freedom of religion and free speech. If Christians are allowed to have prayer in school, so are Islamics, Buddhists, and Wicans.

Personally I don’t want a Wican teacher telling my future children how to pray.

They will learn to pray at home, and it won’t be up to a principal or teacher to tell them when they can or can’t pray.

They’ll know, just like I did growing up, that when you feel the need to pray – do it.

Don’t wait on a teacher or principal to give you permission or set aside a time to do so.

Well, back to my reading and hopefully writing. I need to update my book online or everyone will just stop reading it – and that’s no good at all.

A work in progress

Sunshine on my shoulder

I’ve started it.

After debating and thinking, I finally decided “forget it…” I’m going to start a book.

I’ll post updates online as I go. Check it out, give you input.

And remember it’s a work in progress.

UPDATE: This book didn’t quite make the cut. It stalled after the 2nd chapter. Perhaps I’ll go back to it sometime in the future. However – I did finally finish a full novel just over 4 years later: St. Peter’s Brewery. You can find out more about the novel and order copies for your entire family at StPetersBrewery.info.

U2 Sermons Blog for Get Up Off Your Knees: Preaching the U2 Catalog

U2 Sermons Blog for Get Up Off Your Knees: Preaching the U2 Catalog Just found this blog tonight. Rock n Roll. I haven’t read the book yet, but someday. Oh yes, someday I will read it.