popular Jesus

While organized religion may be losing popularity among the masses, Jesus apparently is not.  In a recently released public survey, 33% of polled Britons say Jesus Christ is the person they would most like to communicate with from beyond the grave. [FYI, Princess Diana came in second, Shakespeare third]

Intended to promote the third season release of ITV [Independent Television Authority] British sci-fi show Primeval on DVD, the survey surprised pollsters – how exactly the question relates to the show I’ve yet to figure out but I think it has to do with time travel.  One survey spokesman conceded, “These results show that Jesus Christ will always be the British public’s ‘Superstar.’”  I wonder how Americans would answer the same question – humm?

Jesus also showed up today in a Washington Times post by Julia Duin about a new Jesus book out called, “Journeys with the Messiah” by Michael Belk.  It’s a collection of photos of a Jesus with modern day Italians from all walks of life.  Belk told Duin, “I want people to see these images and say, ‘This isn’t about religion, it’s about life.’  The non-churched are frightened by anything that has ‘Jesus’ or ‘church’ connected with it.”

I’m not sure Belk is right about Jesus frightening anyone – but when it comes to ‘church’ that may be a different story.   You can see Belk’s project at thejourneysproject.com.

at a theater near you

Well it has finally happened. Tucker Max’s best selling book, I hope They Serve Beer In Hell, has been made into a movie and hits theaters in just a few days. Now, I read a lot of books — many listed on the NY Times best-seller list. And I’m the first to support an individual’s right to express themselves in whatever medium they choose. And normally, I refuse to critique books I haven’t actually read or movies I haven’t seen….but in this case I make an exception. This is just my opinion – but I cannot see anything positive or redeeming in the kind of reckless and remorseless debauchery that is apparently represented and promoted in Max’s literature or film. Clearly, Tucker Max disagrees. In the introduction to his book he writes,

“My name is Tucker Max, and I am an a******. I get excessively drunk at inappropriate times, disregard social norms, indulge every whim, ignore the consequences of my actions, mock idiots and posers, sleep with more women than is safe or reasonable, and just generally act like a raging d*******. But, I do contribute to humanity in one very important way: I share my adventures with the world.”

Giving credit where credit is due, Tucker is at least honest about himself and his behavior. Alot of people will no doubt laugh at his degenerate antics but the notion that Tucker Max is somehow contributing to humanity is in itself a joke.

“The way of a fool seems right to him.” -Proverbs 12:15

my latest fascinating read

Malcolm Gladwell has done it again. After writing about how little things make a big difference in THE TIPPING POINT and about the power of thinking without thinking in BLINK, Gladwell’s latest NY Times bestselling book is entitled OUTLIERS in which he examines the not so obvious elements of success.  An outlier as defined by Gladwell is something that is situated far away from or classed differently from a main or related body; a statistical observation that is markedly different in value from the others of the same sample.

With that definition in mind, Gladwell examines the less than obvious reasons behind the success of such people as Bill Gates, The Beatles, top NY city lawyers, professional athletes, etc.  Factors of generation, family, culture and class play a greater role in human potential than we may realize.

Anyway, it is an extremely fascinating read. It seems to me that the book’s popularity reflects how badly people want to experience some level of success [however they might define it] and grasp some greater purpose in life.   Isn’t that true for all of us?

Whether or not you agree with Gladwell’s thesis is obviously up to you but as in previous works his research and style of presenting his case is compelling. 

Malcolm Gladwell, author of OUTLIERS

 Frankly, I really enjoy reading his books but given his picture – I’m confident he won’t be writing on hairstyling any time soon…but that opinion comes from bald guy who is perhaps a tad jealous of Gladwell’s wild and outstanding fro.

Who knows maybe hair does indeed have something to do with success?

spiritual lethargy and us

Out of the many books I’ve read of late, Kathleen Norris’ text entitled Acedia & me has helped to idenify and clarify for me something we all struggle with at one time or another.  Acedia, as defined by standard dictionaries is apathy, boredom, topor or what the monastics refered to as ‘the noonday demon.’  At its greek root, the word acedia means the absence of care. The person afflicted with it refuses to or is incapable of caring. Originally listed as ‘sloth’ [number 7 of the deadliest sins], acedia is more than just laziness. It is a spiritual apathy that can overshadow our lives. Norris suggests it rests at the core of much of our restless boredom, frantic escapism, commitment phobia, and enervating despair. Could acedia be the malady that plagues Christians today and keeps us from full and passionate living?
If you’ve ever struggled with a sense of spiritual lethargy, I endorse this book. Norris takes a close historical, biblical, scientific, practical and personal look at the issue.
FYI – this is not an easy read per se in that it takes some time to consider and absorb what Norris is writing. It is, however, worth the effort. She openly shares her joys, disappointments, and suffering in life and how acedia seeks to effect them all.  Her story will resonate deeply with our common human experiences. When her husband became terminally ill, Norris writes how during the last year of his life her most ‘spiritual’ activity was cleaning out his urinals and commodes. Here is an excerpt from Norris’ thoughts on grace…

The comedy of grace is that it often comes to us as loss, sorrow, and foul-smelling waste; if it came as gain, gladness, and sweetly scented flowers, we would not be grateful. We would, as we are wont to do, take personal credit for the unwarranted gifts of God. It is easy to be attracted to the idea of grace—which one dictionary defines as ‘divine love and protection bestowed freely on people’ – but much harder to recognize this grace when it comes as pain and unwelcome change. In the depths of our confusion and anger, we ask: ‘How can this be God’s love? Where is God in this disaster?’ For grace to be grace, it must give us things we didn’t know we needed and take us to places where we didn’t want to go. As we stumble through the crazily altered landscape of our lives, we find that God is enjoying our attention as never before. And maybe that’s the point. It is a divine comedy.

Politics, Plagues and Religion

The 21st century is my kind of place and time…but there is something I find intriguing about the 13th century or thereabouts. Why am interested in the middle ages? I have no idea, given the lack of personal hygene and everything. Yet, the germs and filth, serfs and waifs, knights and maidens, jousting and ale [a potentially lethal combination mind you] – it all fascinates me.

So I just finished a tome written by Ken Follett entitled World Without End. Incredibly researched and tantilizingly engaging, the novel weaves an historical narrative that paints a detailed portrait of life in late 13th century England.

If you’re interested in monks, cathedrals, castles, knights, plagues, political power and corruption–this book is for you.

FYI…this is not a funny book.   If looney middle ages is what you want you’ll have to look elsewhere.  Perhaps below at this classic scene –

Where is Christ this Christmas

When USA Today wants to know “where is Christ in Christmas?” they know who to ask! Mike Horton 

“Horton blames Christians themselves for taking the Christ out of Christmas. `Secularism cannot be blamed on the secularists, many of whom were raised in the church. We are the problem,’ he says.”

Read more USA Today

What I’m reading

Last week someone asked me, “What books are you reading these days?” The answer may or may not interest you at all…it’s ok one way or the other. In case you want to know – here’s the list…

The Science of Fear by Daniel Gardner 

Along the lines of Freakonomics and The Tipping Point, Gardner’s recent publication examines the issue of fear from a research and statistical perspective.  Long story short – we as Americans fear things we should not and fail to fear those we should.  Why?  You’ll have to read the book…however, on Sunday, Nov 23 I will share some information I’ve learned from Gardner and see how it applies to the idea of “peace.”

Slam by Nick Hornby [NY Times Bestseller] 

Why?  I don’t know.  I saw it on Boarder’s shelf and thought it would be interesting.  I was right.  Hornby tells the story of love, relationships and teen pregnancy from the unique perspective of a 17 year old male British skateboarder.  Sad, funny and incredibly insightful.

Merle’s Door by Ted Kerasote [National Bestseller] 

The story of a man and his dog.  Kerasote mixes narative with scientific research which makes for a very interesting read.   Downside?  I know the dog is going to die in the end.  Isn’t that how all dog books go?  That’s how the last dog book I read went.  That too is a good read [The Art of Racing in the Rain].

No Perfect People Allowed by John Burke      

A book about how the Christian church should be, must be and is called to be a “come as you are” culture.  It reasonates with me because PCC tends to reflect the kind of place Burke is writing about….for that I’m extremely grateful.

 

When You’re Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris  [Bestseller]  

I just finished.  Observations on life, relationships and the mudane written as only Sedaris can.  Funny, relevant, insightful, clever…but not for the faint of heart.  He is blunt and not out to keep from offending anyone.

DISCLAIMER:  I am not recomending these books — they’re simply ones I’m reading.  You’ll notice four out of the five do not fit into the “pop Christian”  book genre.  FYI – I read a very limited number of those.  For one, there is a lot of good writing out there and to limit myself to only “Christian” books has absolutely no appeal.  Two, I’m interested in and really want to know and understand what our culture at-large is reading and thinking.

oldest bible text

For those of you who might be interested – the oldest known surviving copy of the New Testament moved into the 21st century last week when parts of it went online for the first time.

 

In case you missed it, the full manuscript of the Codex   Sinaiticus will be online a year from now. The British Library plans to begin publishing the Codex Sinaiticus, a 4th century text handwritten in Greek, on its Web site. The Gospel of Mark and the Book of Psalms was launced Thursday.

Along with Codex Vaticanus [a little older], Codex Sinaiticus is one of the most valuable manuscripts for establishing the original text of the Greek New Testament, as well as the Septuagint [Greek version of Old Testament].

Translations of the Codex Sinaiticus have long been widely available, but publishing images of the manuscript online will let anyone see pages that, until now, have been viewed in detail mainly by academia.

You can check out the ancient text at codexsinaiticus.

Unfortunately, at this point, the entire RayK translation remains unavailble for the general public.

What’s so great…

It took a while because I read it slowly and deliberately but I finally finished Dinesh D’Souza’s book, What’s So Great About Christianity. Responding to a recent flurry of atheist publications, D’Souza addresses the anti-God community head on. Many of the arguments posed by those who want to abolish religion altogether are effectively refuted.

Well researched, documented and written, the book is an important read for anyone who wants defend belief in God and Christianity in particular. Honestly, this New York Times BESTSELLER should be on your bookshelf.

Theism vs atheism

This week I’m speaking on theism vs atheism - not a particularly simple topic to cover in 30 minutes or so…but I’ll give it a shot. Dinesh D’souza’s book, What’s So Great About Christianity has helped inform some of my more recent thinking. Considering that 92% of Americans believe in God [according to the 2007 study by Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life], D’Souza says this about atheists…”Throw a stone in the faculty parking lot of an elite American or European university and you have a good chance of hittting an atheist. But throw a stone anywhere else and you really have to aim.”

Speaking of universities — check out this interesting clip from a student, faculty forum that took place at a University of Michigan with guest presenter Dr. Ravi Zacharias [scholar, author, Christian apologist] addressing not only the issue of atheism but various other topics posed by the audience.