The previous post is mostly a joke, and a joke mostly directed at myself. Re-reading a bit of Brother Lawrence in 25 Books Every Christian Should Read was another reminder that prayers of gratitude or intercession aren’t often my first thoughts or the first words on my lips — particularly when I’m driving. (I do wonder, though, how Brother Lawrence would’ve gone about practicing the presence of God on U.S. 202 during rush hour.) But apart from the joking absurdity... Read more
Tony Jones posted a provocative poll on the subject of prayer. The question was “Why do you pray?” and the poll allowed for only two possible answers: 1) Prayer changes me; and 2) Prayer changes God. (Results here.) I’d like to get at this question from a different angle by sharing with you my own practice of prayer macros. Like the keyboard shortcuts after which I’ve named them, these are convenient, time-saving devices that allow me to invoke some commonly... Read more
Tribulation Force, pp. 437-440 Buck Williams answers the telephone. Here is what Buck will learn from this phone call: Bruce Barnes is in the hospital in a coma. I’ve told you that much ahead of time to save you from doing what I did when I first read this section — going back to re-read Jerry Jenkins’ account of this phone call to marvel at how strange the tone of the caller is for someone relaying such news: In the... Read more
Cosma Shalizi: “Dives, Lazarus and Alice“ The larger point is that while what is technologically efficient depends on facts of nature, what is economically efficient is a function of our social arrangements, of who owns how much of what. Economic efficiency may be a good tool, but it is perverse to serve your own tools, and monstrous to be ruled by them. David Hill: “$5 Chess Game, Best-of-Three, Zuccotti Park“ Zugzwang is a term used in chess to refer to... Read more
Kevin Drum: “The Real Story Behind Black Friday.” The phrase originally was a snarky dig at customers by retailers, and so of course it started here in Philadelphia. “Thanksgiving: Busting the tryptophan myth wide open.” The American Chemical Society says we feel groggy from over-eating, but not from the tryptophan in turkey. I’m sure the over-eating has an effect, but I don’t find their attempt to exonerate the turkey wholly convincing. Via Sarah Kliff, here’s the “myth-busting” from Aaron Carroll:... Read more
James 5:1-6 Come now, you rich people, weep and wail for the miseries that are coming to you. Your riches have rotted, and your clothes are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you, and it will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure for the last days. Listen! The wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries of... Read more
“George Michael is reportedly worsening after being admitted on Monday to an Austrian hospital for the treatment of pneumonia.” George Michael wrote some of the best and most enduring pop songs of the 1980s. For many people, that sentence probably cancels itself out, with the word “pop” diminishing the word “best,” and “the 1980s” diminishing the phrase “most enduring.” But listen without prejudice and, 24 years later, Faith still sounds great. There’s not a bad song on that album. Volumes... Read more
I’ve consulted with an expert — a licensed professional with decades of experience in crafting the hair of men who can afford to pay top dollar for such services — and she says this New York Times profile of Mitt Romney’s hairstylist is ridiculous. Mr. de Magistris, who gave Mr. Romney a $70 trim three weeks ago, agreed to share some of the secrets behind his most famous client’s coiffure in between haircuts the other day. No, he said, Mr.... Read more
Well now way back in the Bible Temptations always come along There’s always somebody tempting Somebody into doing something they know is wrong Well they tempt you, man, with silver And they tempt you, sir, with gold And they tempt you with the pleasure That the flesh does surely hold They say Eve tempted Adam with an apple But man I ain’t going for that I know it was her pink Cadillac … — Bruce Springsteen, “Pink Cadillac” I’m reading... Read more
Today is a happy day here in America, because it’s Thanksgiving Day — a day to gather with our families to enjoy a meal and spend hours talking with our relatives. Today is a stressful day here in America, because it’s Thanksgiving Day — a day to gather with our families to enjoy a meal and spend hours talking with our relatives. For many of us, Thanksgiving involves a delicate dance around topics that might “set off” certain family members... Read more
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