poetry readings have to be some of the saddest
damned things ever,
the gathering of the clansmen and clanladies,
week after week, month after month, year
after year,
getting old together,
reading on to tiny gatherings,
still hoping their genius will be
discovered,
Archive for October, 2008
Poetry Readings by Charles Bukowski
Posted in Religion on October 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Mysticism in Mark’s Gospel
Posted in Bible Study, Christianity, Religion on October 29, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
The term “mysticism” is looked on with great suspicion by many Christians. To suggest that mystical experiences can be found within the gospels is often viewed as heresy. It is unfortunate that Christians have allowed this term to be corrupted by other belief systems to the point where it is practically unusable within [...]
Weekly Meanderings
Posted in Meanderings on October 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Here’s some stuff I came across this week…
1. Jesus Creed posted three excellent posts this week on original sin and evolution; the best of the bunch was the second post on evolution.
2. The Bible in a minute.
3. Study finds that with Pre-Natal Testing, 9 in 10 Down Syndrome Babies Aborted (although…you should consider the agenda [...]
The Disappearing Act by Matthew Clendineng
Posted in Literature on October 23, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
The ground, soft, sticky, and smelly
is melting away beyond my window.
I cannot touch or smell it.
I cannot hold it in my hand.
My view fades as the fog rolls in from the fields;
It has disappeared; vanished.
I step through my window
I walk out on the nothingness
I do not sink or stumble or dissipate
I am held by the [...]
Science & the Bible in late modernity
Posted in Bible Study, Christianity, Church, Literature, Religion, Science on October 22, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
One of the principles key to the protestant reformation was the idea of Sola Scriptura: that the Bible is sufficient of itself to be the source of Christian doctrine. John Wesley further clarified this idea when he stated, “In all cases, the Church is to be judged by the Scripture, not the Scripture by the [...]
A Prayer
Posted in Bible Study on October 19, 2008 | 1 Comment »
God of grace,
You alone fully understand how we came to be your children. I only know a small percentage of the grace you have provided for me and for all of mankind. Thank you for the grace provided through Jesus Christ. Thank you for the opportunity to believe in you. Thank you for caring for [...]
Weekly Meanderings
Posted in Meanderings on October 18, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Here’s some stuff I came across this week…
1. Dan Kimball shares his thoughts on “Relligulous”.
2. What is a conservative reading of Song of Solomon.
3. David Neff critiques Anne Rice’s comments on sexuality (I will avoid telling you who I am more in agreement with).
4. A Few
To the Virgins to Make Much of Time by Robert Herrick
Posted in Literature on October 16, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
GATHER ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old time is still a-flying :
And this same flower that smiles to-day
To-morrow will be dying.
The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,
The higher he’s a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he’s to setting.
That age is best which is the first,
When youth and blood are warmer ;
But being spent, the [...]
Worship in Biblical History: The Passover
Posted in Bible Study, Christianity, Religion on October 15, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
An exploration of worship in Exodus 12:1-13:16
The Passover, which began Israel’s Exodus from Egypt, marked the beginning event of Israel’s transformation into God’s holy people. The Passover was an act of worship by Abraham’s descendants which allowed God to begin his sanctification of this people group who had been slaves for over [...]
Brief Philosophy of Ministry
Posted in Church on October 14, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
• Reliance on the Holy Spirit
We may have the best plans, intentions, or people in the world, but only God can grow his church. Before any action we must spend time waiting on the leading of the Lord.
• Enablement of ministry
Every person has a ministry which God is calling them to engage in. The [...]
A Prayer
Posted in Prayer on October 12, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
God who provides,
Thank you for meeting our needs. Thank you for giving us patience and helping us to wait. Thank you for all that you have provided. Please give us direction as we move forward. Help us to know what you are calling us to do. Help us as we live lives as parents, workers, [...]
Weekly Meanderings
Posted in Meanderings on October 11, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Here’s some stuff I came across this week…
1. Scot McKnight gives his take on “Left Behind or Left Befuddled”.
2. …and John Frye shares his thoughts on Scot McKnight’s “Blue Parakeet”.
3. Singing theology.
4. Commentary on teen abortion rates falling.
5. Faith based dieting (read the comments for some nice faith bashing).
6. UCLA mathematicians find the 46th known [...]
A quick note
Posted in Uncategorized on October 10, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Sorry that posts have been late this week. Monday morning I, along with half of my department, was laid off at work. Thursday morning I was offered a job that I had been interviewing for over the last month and a half; I will start that new job on Monday. So the [...]
God’s labor market
Posted in Church, Economics on October 10, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
An analysis of the labor market for protestant ministers in the United States
Below is an excerpt from a paper I wrote in 2003 analyzing the labor market for pastors. The full article can be found here. Enjoy this excerpt:
“In a free market setting pastoral wages will always be very low when compared to other professionals. [...]
A Roman’s Lament at 7:15pm by Matthew Clendineng
Posted in Literature on October 9, 2008 | 1 Comment »
The darkness pounds, pounds, pounds;
It pounds a way into my head.
Depression is all around me and soon it may enter my soul.
My body is weak, my mind is weak, my soul is weak.
How do I strengthen them?
How do I discipline myself?
I do, do, do;
The very things I should not do.
How do I train myself to [...]
The Role of the Holy Spirit in the Contemporary World
Posted in Christianity, Religion on October 8, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Thesis: The Holy Spirit is the active agent of God through whom all of mankind is directed toward God. The Holy Spirit works to:
Draw the pre-repentant (and post-repentant) Christian toward God
Diversify the kingdom of God through individual giftings
Bond the Church together through baptism and [...]
Weekly Meanderings
Posted in Uncategorized on October 4, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Here’s some stuff I came across this week…
1. Jews and Muslims sharing the holy seasons in Jerusalem.
2. Jon Stewart interviews Bill Maher on his movie Religulous.
3. StufffChristiansLike has the 5 stages of emailing friends an unintentionally funny Christian video.
4. And David Crowder covers Sonseed’s “Jesus is my friend”.
5. They’ve been working on flexible, organic screens [...]
Hardware by Ronald Wallace (with commentary)
Posted in Literature on October 2, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
My father always knew the secret
name of everything–
stove bolt and wing nut,
set screw and rasp, ratchet
wrench, band saw, and ball
peen hammer. He was my
tour guide and translator
through that foreign country
with its short-tempered natives
in their crew cuts and tattoos,
who suffered my incompetence
with gruffness and disgust.
Pay attention, he would say,
and you’ll learn a thing or two.
Now it’s [...]
A 4am prayer
Posted in Prayer on October 1, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
God, I want to thank you for being with me. I appreciate that your spirit never leaves me. It makes me want to cry when I recognize that you are with me when I do some of the things I do. Please forgive me. Help me to be a better man, [...]
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