Additional apparel can be found at BustedTees.com.
Friday, March 25, 2005
a (wretch-free) book recommendation: real sex: the naked truth about chastity, by lauren f. winner
Finally, a Christian consideration of sex that is (almost) as delightful as the act itself! With exegetical acumen, historical awareness, pastoral sensibility and surprising wit Lauren Winner exposes the half-truths the church and the world have told us about sex. She then proceeds to help us develop a Christian understanding of sex that is biblical, communal and God-honoring. Real Sex is an invaluable resource for college students whose queries cannot be answered by "True Love Waits," Christian communities that desperately long for a return to sexual fidelity and pastors who want to speak a good word about sex into this postmodern context. A remarkable resource!
Finally, a Christian consideration of sex that is (almost) as delightful as the act itself! With exegetical acumen, historical awareness, pastoral sensibility and surprising wit Lauren Winner exposes the half-truths the church and the world have told us about sex. She then proceeds to help us develop a Christian understanding of sex that is biblical, communal and God-honoring. Real Sex is an invaluable resource for college students whose queries cannot be answered by "True Love Waits," Christian communities that desperately long for a return to sexual fidelity and pastors who want to speak a good word about sex into this postmodern context. A remarkable resource!
Thursday, March 24, 2005
maundy thursday
"could you not wait with me for one hour?" the Lord asks, after the t.v. transformed me into a drone and i have drifted off to sleep. "watch and pray, so that you will not fall prey to temptation" of the american dream, apathy and your own small, self-centered expectations, i quickly add. "for the Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." weak in what way, i wonder, for it seems perfectly capable cultivating the lusts of my heart and maintaining the wall of pride that surrounds it. maybe Jesus isn't talking to me, i surmise, for it is the Spirit not the flesh that feels weak within me. if, indeed, He is within me at all.
so, rent with contradiction i remain in the garden, for it is to this place of darkness, suffering and self-doubt that the one i hesitantly call Lord has called me to go. i sit in the silence, i try to pray, i wonder whether i am the betrayer, and i fall asleep.
welcome to the garden. though i cover my face on account of failure, i am glad you are with me. please pinch me when i am tempted to slumber. please help me to watch and pray.
"could you not wait with me for one hour?" the Lord asks, after the t.v. transformed me into a drone and i have drifted off to sleep. "watch and pray, so that you will not fall prey to temptation" of the american dream, apathy and your own small, self-centered expectations, i quickly add. "for the Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." weak in what way, i wonder, for it seems perfectly capable cultivating the lusts of my heart and maintaining the wall of pride that surrounds it. maybe Jesus isn't talking to me, i surmise, for it is the Spirit not the flesh that feels weak within me. if, indeed, He is within me at all.
so, rent with contradiction i remain in the garden, for it is to this place of darkness, suffering and self-doubt that the one i hesitantly call Lord has called me to go. i sit in the silence, i try to pray, i wonder whether i am the betrayer, and i fall asleep.
welcome to the garden. though i cover my face on account of failure, i am glad you are with me. please pinch me when i am tempted to slumber. please help me to watch and pray.
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
overheard
"there is no downside to winning. it feels forever fabulous. but there is no teacher more discriminating or transforming than loss. the great secret of athletics is that you can learn more from losing than winning. no coach can afford to preach such a doctrine, but our losing season served as both a model and template of how a life of how a life can go wrong and fall apart in even the most inconceivable places. losing prepares you for the heartbreak, setback and tragedy that you will encounter in the world more than winning ever can. by licking your wounds, you learn how to avoid getting wounded the next time."
~pat conroy, my losing season
"one secret of life is that the reason life works at all is that not everyone in your tribe is nuts on the same day. another secret is that laughter is carbonated holiness."
~anne lamott, in plan b: further reflections on faith
"there is no downside to winning. it feels forever fabulous. but there is no teacher more discriminating or transforming than loss. the great secret of athletics is that you can learn more from losing than winning. no coach can afford to preach such a doctrine, but our losing season served as both a model and template of how a life of how a life can go wrong and fall apart in even the most inconceivable places. losing prepares you for the heartbreak, setback and tragedy that you will encounter in the world more than winning ever can. by licking your wounds, you learn how to avoid getting wounded the next time."
~pat conroy, my losing season
"one secret of life is that the reason life works at all is that not everyone in your tribe is nuts on the same day. another secret is that laughter is carbonated holiness."
~anne lamott, in plan b: further reflections on faith
mid-morning time wasters
in honor of dr. james' post and my own digust at having lived the pimp-driven life, i am proud to present the first annual purpose driven makeover contest! the purpose of this game is tofind parking, er, i mean, to carefully examine the photos below and clearly identify the five components of pastor rick's purpose-driven makeover. the winner of the contest will receive a sparkling, slightly damaged, copy of pastor warren's aptly named what on earth am i here for? good luck!
in honor of dr. james' post and my own digust at having lived the pimp-driven life, i am proud to present the first annual purpose driven makeover contest! the purpose of this game is to
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
mid-morning time wasters
if you find yourself searching for a little levity this morning, i would encourage you to surf on over to the following sites.
DateJesus (if you're not easily scandalized, feel free to click on the "bathe" link as well)
Wait Wear
i was so inspired by the second site, that i sent the creators an encouraging email. if you would like to read the aforementioned email, check out my comments.
early afternoon time wasters
pray tell, when you meditate upon this image divine what line from happy gilmore comes to mind?
if you find yourself searching for a little levity this morning, i would encourage you to surf on over to the following sites.
DateJesus (if you're not easily scandalized, feel free to click on the "bathe" link as well)
Wait Wear
i was so inspired by the second site, that i sent the creators an encouraging email. if you would like to read the aforementioned email, check out my comments.
early afternoon time wasters
pray tell, when you meditate upon this image divine what line from happy gilmore comes to mind?
Monday, March 21, 2005
gratitude
i live in a world of great reversals
a few of which i'm awake enough to see
i've seen sinners become saints
combatants become friends
the handicapped unveil the holy and hidden heart of me.
all these reversals, these sacred surprises
continue to startle and overwhelm me
a bastard buoyed by family
an enemy among friends
a shepherd led by sheep
i live in a world of great reversals
a few of which i've been able to see.
i live in a world of great reversals
a few of which i'm awake enough to see
i've seen sinners become saints
combatants become friends
the handicapped unveil the holy and hidden heart of me.
all these reversals, these sacred surprises
continue to startle and overwhelm me
a bastard buoyed by family
an enemy among friends
a shepherd led by sheep
i live in a world of great reversals
a few of which i've been able to see.
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