Today is Patty Griffin’s birthday. Here she is singing Springsteen: * * * * * * * * * Hall-of-Fame manager Connie Mack was, for decades, one of the fiercest enforcers of the so-called “gentlemen’s agreement” that kept Major League baseball white-only. Mack won 3,731 games in 53 years as a manager. And he lost 3,948. Loser. Mack retired in 1950, three years after Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color line, but Mack’s Philadelphia Athletics team wouldn’t integrate for yet another... Read more
David Wong: “6 Things Rich People Need to Stop Saying“ Our entire philosophy about money kind of revolves around this premise — that there is no poor or working class, but only people who have chosen to not buckle down to the task of getting rich (and thus deserve whatever salary, insecurity or poor work conditions they get). So there should be no talk about improving the lives of the non-rich, since any of them can simply choose to elevate... Read more
There ain’t no way to make the bad man stop babe … “Ain’t 2 Proud 2 Beg,” TLC “Ain’t Goin’ Down to the Well,” Tom Waits “Ain’t Gonna Rain Anymore,” Nick Cave “Ain’t Got You,” Bruce Springsteen “Ain’t Hip to Be Labelled a Hippie,” De La Soul “Ain’t It a Shame,” The B-52s “Ain’t It Good,” Children of Eden original cast recording “Ain’t It Strange,” Dr. Dog “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” Leon Redbone “Ain’t No Grave,” Amy Black “Ain’t No Grave,” Johnny... Read more
While we’re on the subject of the gospel and the Gospels, I was excited to hear about the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope to be build in the mountains of Chile. This promises major breakthroughs in New Testament scholarship. With this massive new … What? Ohhh. Well, that’s pretty cool too. Cliff Vaughn offers a list of 10 “funny” Bible passages. I’m not sure Vaughn’s list is really 10-for-10, or even 5-for-10, but this bit with Peter and Rhoda in the... Read more
“It is full of interest. It has noble poetry in it; and some clever fables; and some blood-drenched history; and some good morals; and a wealth of obscenity; and upwards of a thousand lies.” — Mark Twain, Letters From the Earth I did a disservice to Richard Beck’s chapel lecture on Judges 19 by linking to it the other day without more context. Thanks to Dr. Beck for providing some of that missing context and engaging in a friendly discussion... Read more
“Was I wrong on the afterlife, as so many among the bien-pensant brayed for me to admit that I was wrong on Iraq? Plainly, no.” “To flounce … the professional flounce / To sigh … when the comments are cruel …” “You taught us to treat everybody fairly and as individuals, not to judge, that we’re all in this together, and God put us here to help each other out.” (via Shakesville) “The founders believed that because people were ignorant... Read more
I need to finish a non-blog writing project, so to help carve out the time for that, I’ll be taking a short break from our journey through Left Behind. That will resume next month, when we’ll begin on the third book in the series: Nicolae. (Spoiler: He’s the Antichrist. Spoiler two: The third book doesn’t get any better.) The unexpected surprise of Ashley Cleveland singing in the credits of the second Left Behind movie had me surfing YouTube for more... Read more
Let me quote the actual words of Luke 8:40-48, this time from the New Revised Standard Version: As he went, the crowds pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years; and though she had spent all she had on physicians, no one could cure her. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his clothes, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped. Then Jesus asked, “Who touched me?” When all... Read more
Luke 8:40-48 (Contemporary American Version) But as he went the people thronged him. And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. And Jesus said, “Who taxed me?” When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, “Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and... Read more
“Self-identified evangelicals in these two states are also much more likely than others to favor legal bans on interracial marriage: nearly one-fourth in Alabama, and one-third in Mississippi.” “Catrina was arrested at gun point, handcuffed, and hauled off to the LaSalle Parish Jail. A search of her home turned up no evidence of drug use or drug dealing.” “Read the story from the victim’s perspective. This is what defines the Christian imagination.” “You folks enjoy the rest of the show.”... Read more
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