It's been the week of dreams, as I spent my two free evenings seeing both the movie "Inception" and the musical, "Man of La Mancha". Both were great; well crafted and executed, drawing the audience fully into the story. Both had to do with with dreams and visions, with how we view reality. Both play with the question of what becomes of our lives when the lines between reality and our dreams become blurred. Of all the nuanced considerations of dreams, reality, and the blurred lines between … [Read more...]
Brian’s Song: confusing words on a slippery slope
June 4, 2010 By 15 Comments
I'll start by saying that many of Brian McLaren's books have been great reads. I read "the church on the other side" years ago, which gave voice to some important cultural shifts as "post-modernity" was becoming a common phrase in theological circles. Two things stood out in that book as important and true: 1. Brian didn't challenge the notion of absolute truth. Instead he challenged the human capacity to apprehend truth perfectly, and communicate it accurately, so that it might be … [Read more...]
extreme sports, shamanism, and the danger of boredom
May 14, 2010 By 6 Comments
I'm rereading a favorite old book of mine called, "Bone Games" right now, about extreme sports and shamanism. The author had one of those supernatural experiences that climbers sometimes get when their life is hanging by a thread. He was able, after a fall, to down climb a stretch of ice covered rock flakes in Colorado, something most expert climbers wouldn't be able to do in a state of even perfect health. As he writes regarding his perfect presence during the ordeal, "I was the very best … [Read more...]
Water Wednesdays: Justice and the Water Cycle
April 28, 2010 By 10 Comments
Psalm 104 is one of my favorite parts of the Bible because it poetically articulates what we enjoy hear in the Pacific Northwest with such clarity: the water cycle. The sun heats the ocean and water evaporates, condensing as it cools on the rise, to become clouds. Prevailing winds push the clouds inland, where the clouds empty as rain or, in the cold places, snow. This water becomes life - for plants, animals, humans, and bloggers like me. All of us...ALL OF US, need water to … [Read more...]
The Great Divorce: read it, see it, live it.
February 2, 2010 By 20 Comments
Taproot Theater is presently offering a marvelous production of CS Lewis' classic book, "The Great Divorce" on their mainstage. After watching a play or movie derived from a book, I usually come away with a heavy preference for the book; things are left out; the visuals are other than what I'd imagined. I go back to reading. In this case the opposite proved to be true. Taproot's production is so brilliantly crafted and executed, that I left with a more profound appreciation for the book … [Read more...]
Digesting the “Deadly Misunderstanding”
January 19, 2010 By 21 Comments
The past decade could have, and perhaps should have been a time for Christians to begin learning about Islam. But that didn't happen very much. Instead we learned about the terror tactics of 'racial Islam', and some of us even made the grave error of generalizing radical Islam, imputing those values to all Muslims. This is very kind of objectification that Jesus warned against when he spoke of people who 'have eyes but don't see', 'ears but don't hear.' It's time to step away from our … [Read more...]
Digesting the “Deadly Misunderstanding”
January 19, 2010 By 21 Comments
The past decade could have, and perhaps should have been a time for Christians to begin learning about Islam. But that didn't happen very much. Instead we learned about the terror tactics of 'racial Islam', and some of us even made the grave error of generalizing radical Islam, imputing those values to all Muslims. This is very kind of objectification that Jesus warned against when he spoke of people who 'have eyes but don't see', 'ears but don't hear.' It's time to step away from our … [Read more...]
The Book of Eli – an accident needing to happen
January 17, 2010 By 4 Comments
My wife and I were planning on see Avatar this afternoon, but when we arrived for the mid-day matinee, it was sold out. Having come all the way downtown we decided to see "The Book of Eli" instead, mainly because we both enjoy Denzel Washington. From the opening moments, the movie was phenomenal at every level: great cinematography and acting, and a story line that utterly caught us by surprise, because it is, after all, a movie about the Bible. Though we were there accidentally, it felt … [Read more...]
The Book of Eli – an accident needing to happen
January 17, 2010 By 3 Comments
My wife and I were planning on see Avatar this afternoon, but when we arrived for the mid-day matinee, it was sold out. Having come all the way downtown we decided to see "The Book of Eli" instead, mainly because we both enjoy Denzel Washington. From the opening moments, the movie was phenomenal at every level: great cinematography and acting, and a story line that utterly caught us by surprise, because it is, after all, a movie about the Bible. Though we were there accidentally, it felt … [Read more...]
Lessons from the Faithful in Munich…
December 14, 2009 By 5 Comments
In case you weren't at Bethany Community Church yesterday (and even if you were), I thought you'd enjoy this little production, created by roaming around Munich in search of learning more about Sophie Scholl and the White Rose. Many people ask about the fruit of their work. I can offer two stories, and with each, a word of hope from the Scriptures. First, when the news of the White Rose reached America, the allies printed the leaflets by the tens of thousands and air-dropped them over the … [Read more...]
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