Creatio Ex Nihilo

Is a Cheap Wii Really Worth This?

A Wal-Mart employee in NY was killed this morning in a 4:55 AM stampede.  What a difference a day in our calendar makes.  If Thanksgiving was about everything that is good in America, I believe Black Friday represents everything that is wrong with America.   How is it that within 24 hours we are able to do a 180 from gratitude to greed?  I know we are urged to shop to help the economy, but somehow I don't think the 2,000 people pushing on Wal-Mart's doors had patriotism as their first priority. We have deluded ourselves into believing that buying $39 digital picture frames is not only our right, but our civic duty.

If this is indicative of what we are about as a people, our economy deserves to tank.  Check out groups like Advent Conspiracy or the Sudan Project.  Even if you don't consider yourself Christian or religious, cut down on your holiday spending (even just one unnecessary gift) and use the money to make a donation to one of these humanitarian causes.

America - saving the world one Elmo at a time!

Did Jesus Really Have Wooden Teeth?

I just caught the end of a National Geographic Channel program "The Real George Washington."  From what I saw, it debunked much of the folklore surrounding GW and sought to depict him as a much more interesting and multidimensional character than American mythology conveys.  One scholar lamented that that the real tragedy of the folklore portrayal is that it makes Washington "so boring."  Another bemoaned that the most familiar visual image of George is the one on the one dollar bill that makes him look like "an old fuddy-duddy."  There are far more engaging portraits that convey his vitality and even a slight smile.

So of course I immediately thought of Jesus.  Historical Jesus scholarship has spent a century attempting to distinguish Jesus folklore from Jesus history.  Rather than play that game, in which converts are seldom made by either side, I'l pose another question.  What for you is the more boring Jesus?  What theological or doctrinal construct is your vitality-robbing dollar bill image of Jesus? In which portrait do you detect the slight wry smile?

OK, I'll go first.  

My boring one dollar bill Jesus:  The one some of my fellow Christians tell me I merely have to "accept" and is apparently obsessed with sexuality and creationism.

The wry smile Jesus: The one with an almost scatological sense of humor, "It's not what goes into a man that makes him unclean, but what comes out of him" ;-) if only the Gospels had emoticons...

The Onion is Brilliant!!!

I never thought I would find an article that so perfectly summarizes my lifelong struggle with much of Christianity.

You Must Read it Here!

Vision Now on the Emergent Podcast Network

The Vision Podcast is now included in the line-up of The Emergent Podcast Network.  This is a network of people that, as part of their participation in the generative friendship of Emergent Village, are producing quality audio and video podcasts that further the conversation about Gospel, God, church, and mission.   Check out some of the other great podcasts there.

If you want to subscribe to my podcast go to the above link.  It's really easy to subscribe if you have iTunes.  I'm excited to be connecting with a larger audience and look forward to the ensuing dialogue.  

Wow - Vision is Only Doing a Giving Challenge

Perhaps I should have tried this instead.   

Some easy one liners:

• Maybe it's a a surefire way to get husbands to come to church.   

• Talk about performance anxiety - "We have to do this for Jesus!"

• After all the clergy sex scandals, it's nice to see them delegating some of the work.

• Since so many of us have been screwed by churches, it's good to find ways to apply it to daily life.