conjectural navel gazing; jesus in lint form

various and sundry

While Paul was making this defence, Festus exclaimed, 'You are out of your mind, Paul! Too much learning is driving you insane!'
- Acts 26:24

I have been working on a couple of possibilities to teach lately. Yes, teach. These are both related to my work as a pastor, so it all feels really good. I am going to be working with a local college's American Sign Language department to teach a class in "interpreting in Christian worship settings." A little liturgy goes a long way, you know. The idea is that ASL interpretation in worship can be more than simply providing a calm corner for the hearing impaired or a woman in a small pop-up box on the projection screen. It should be fun.

The other teaching opportunity is still in the works. I may get to teach a workshop about "ecumenical baptismal ecclesiology." It should be interesting. It's also supremely intimidating.

In other news, the BBC offered up this little article about the New Yorker. Perhaps not surprisingly, I have no problem with the cover. I think it's entirely appropriate given the magazine's history and the current absurd notions that occasionally pop up about Obama and his wife. I have peers who fear Obama because they think he's a closeted Muslim. I don't know that it is as big an issue as the magazine thinks it is...thus worthy of a cover...but that's not my call. Freedom of the press, people. Let 'er go.

Here are two sermons for you on the sower and the seed.

Todd is a sower/sewer?

I've said this before -- Christianity can get dirty. It's not a matter of what type of seed you thought you were, it's a matter now of whether or not you are willing to dig in the dirt and help this place become fertile soil. And it's a matter of letting the sower know when you are on a dry path of misunderstanding, or in rocky, shallow soil, or being choked down by the weeds. Because only by knowing that can I improve my aim. And by knowing that, we can all work together to make this place fertile.

Jorge offered this one to Reconciler. He has a problem with sin...and some thoughts on how we understand it...and our place in salvation.

I urge this because, in some sense, Christianity is not an “either/or”, but a “both/and.” We can often get an overinflated sense of our own righteousness or efficaciousness if we do not try to balance ourselves out. Whether we are Marys or a Marthas, we need to go toward the other end, to where we are not inclined to go, to follow Jesus. Training ourselves, like plants in a garden, toward the Light.

Posted by tripp at July 15, 2008 06:49 AM