Your Rambler has returned from his trip to the desert with his allergies intact. I had a great time getting to meet with some iMonks including Richard and his wife and family (hope you had a good birthday, Gail), and Jim from the Great White North who had maybe the coolest Cincinnati Reds hat I’ve ever seen. I took in four baseball games and two trips to In N Out. All in all, I would call the trip a success.
This is a special week here at the iMonastery. It is the one year anniversary of the death of our founder, Michael Spencer. I cannot believe that it has been a year already, and yet in another way it seems like a lifetime. You will want to check back first thing Tuesday morning for a special word from Denise Spencer, Michael’s wife. This is one of the best essays ever written for Internet Monk. You will be encouraged, you will get to know Michael so much better, and you will cry like a baby. Please remember to pray for Denise and her children (Clay and Taylor, Noel and Ryan) this week as it will be a difficult and challenging week for them all.
And since we are in the mode of announcements, we will start a series of fourteen devotions based on the Stations of the Cross next Saturday, running through Good Friday. Lisa Dye and I will be taking turns exploring the Stations. We hope to make this an interactive series.
Not had enough Rob Bell? You can read thoughts on his book Love Wins by Jerry Walls, Cathy Lynn Grossman, Relevant Magazine, Kevin DeYoung, Ben Witherington, and Greg Boyd. There. From now on, I declare Saturday Ramblings to be a Rob Bell–free zone.
Looks like Creation Museum founder Ken Ham is going to have some unexpected time on his hands. Seems Ham was uninvited from speaking at several homeschool conventions for comments he made about Peter Enns. Enns is a contributor to BioLogos, which Ham disagrees with strongly. Enns has argued against a literal interpretation of Genesis, again something that Ham takes issue with. But it was Ham’s criticism of Enns in other conferences that made the organizers ask him to not return.
But it said so right on the label. A small village church in Hilmartin, England discovered that a very old Bible on display in the last row of pews is an authentic original King James Bible, perhaps one of only 200 left out of 400 original copies. The crazy thing is, there has been a sign above this Bible all along—saying it is an original KJV. The church hired an expert to check into it, and he says, Yes, this is the real deal. When will people learn to pay attention to signs?
Messenger is the first spacecraft to orbit Mercury, the planet closest to our sun. This week Messenger began sending back photographs of the mysterious planet. Very cool indeed.
Do we restrict the reading of the Bible to only those places we think appropriate? What if we began reading it outside of church or our own homes? What if we read—out loud—passages from Jesus’ teachings on money in a bank? Or his teaching that he is the Bread of Life in a bakery? Would our eyes be opened to what God wants us to hear?
Happy birthdays this past week go out to Tennessee Williams; Sandra Day O’Connor; Leonard Nimoy; Bob Woodward; Steven Tyler; Martin Short; Marlin Perkins; Sam Walton; Eric Idle; Frankie Laine; Warren Beatty; Eric Clapton; Norah Jones; Christopher Walken; Gordon “Big Guy” Jump; and Lon Chaney.
For today’s bonus video, I could find something from Slowhand (Eric Clapton). I could find a song by Norah Jones. I could have come up with a routine by Martin Short or, if I could find one without too much profanity, something by Eric Idle. I could have been mean and played Leonard Nimoy singing “Bilbo Baggins.” But come on. Christopher Walken’s birthday? There is only one thing to say: “I need more cowbell.”
[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_ExOkfaSCc’%5D
The Internet Monk Archives 
I know a way to get rid of them. But use carefully.
Pour a few gallons of gas down the hole and light a match. JUST KIDDING.
Knew someone who did this. This person didn’t understand that what burns with gasoline is the vapors. Blew up most of his back yard. But guess what. The moles didn’t understand people boundaries. He also blew up 1/2 of the neighbor’s yard and started a small fire on their back porch.
LikeLike
I have nephews from Texas that when they visit they complain we have too many trees and too many hills.
I agree to some degree. Well at least the part about Texas being all brown and flat. 🙂
LikeLike
That was a interesting review of Bell’s book by Greg Boyd. He makes it sound worth reading. Thanks for that link, Jeff.
LikeLike
That was funny! Thanks for posting the link, rick.
LikeLike
I do miss Michael. “The voice of one crying in the wilderness…”
T
LikeLike
Martha,
I sounds like you are gored upon the horns of the adder, but if it were me I’d stay in old Erie. The grass isn’t greener to the west, and who the hell wants grass with snakes therein?
A notable personage, one Davy Crockett, upon not being re-elected to the House of Representatives for Tennessee told his constituents; “I would serve them as faithfully as I had done; but if not … you may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas.” He did just that. Davy died at the Alamo.
Snakes don’t add much to life.
Tom
LikeLike
You win the cookie. I had forgotten it was one of the Harry Mudd episodes. Here’s the link to a 2-minute clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzVxsYzXI_Y
LikeLike
and baseball……..and more cowbell..
LikeLike
‘that scene on Star Trek when they fried the android’s brain circuits with the statement “I am lying.†‘
Norman, or my name is Mudd!
LikeLike
Ted, these are the kind of urgent questions that Luther and Calvin should have addressed, not trivia like Purgatory or the invocation of saints.
Obviously, if it’s in Acts, and St. Paul is involved (the episode on the island of Malta) then snake-handling without being killed by venom is of the utmost importance in the Christian life. Because Jesus in the Gospel is for those under the Law, but Paul in his Epistles is the Real Determinant of who’s saved and who’s not 😉
Meanwhile, those of us so unkindly unprovisioned by Nature with snakes have to struggle with these questions on our own, without guidance from anyone. Not even a TULIP Calvinist to rule on the question of how lack of snakes bears on God’s free and absolute sovereignity and the differentiation between the elect and the reprobate (after all, if we have no venomous snakes to bite the reprobate, how are we to know who’s who, what’s what, and where’s that?)
LikeLike
Martha,
I have had the great misfortune of finding moles in my garden. Aside from wondering if this is a sign of the second coming, I sure could use a person like St. Patrick to banish moles from Switzerland! Never fear, Ireland is a blessed place!
LikeLike
That didn’t take long—and sorry about that, I figured I’d get a response from somebody down your way. Up here in Maine we’re just digging out from one last (?) snowstorm. A little too chilly for hell.
LikeLike
Hey now, we Texans are still convinced that this is the promised land.
🙂
LikeLike
Eternal bliss from the lack of snakes? Or eternal damnation? This is one of those paradoxical questions worthy of “If God is all-powerful, can he make a rock so big that he himself can’t lift it?” (or) the chicken-and-egg conundrum (or) that scene on Star Trek when they fried the android’s brain circuits with the statement “I am lying.”
I think I’ll leave this one to Ken Ham to figure out. I’m sure he’ll tie it all in with the Flood somehow and give good theological reason why Noah allowed those instruments of the devil (or of eternal bliss?) aboard the ark. Six thousand, fifteen years ago exactly.
As for the choice between Hell and England, why do you think you have to choose? Depending on Ken Ham’s interpretation (and it could go either way), you may end up with the best of both worlds: You stay in that pre-fall Paradise you call Ireland; and the Brits get stuck with Hell.
Which reminds me of Mark Twain (do they teach you this stuff over there?): He once said (about Texas, not about England) that if he owned both Texas and Hell he’d rent out Texas and go home.
LikeLike
Thanks Jeff for the links to reviews and views of Rob Bell’s book. I think Relevant Magazine’s was one of the more even-handed but in-depth ones. I have a better sense of what the book is about although reading it for myself sometime will be the ultimate decider.
And God himself will have the final say, despite Bell, Piper or us. But I can appreciate the idea of hoping or wishing that all might be saved. It goes along with other wishes I have that lead to other confrontations with some fundamentalists/evangelicals. I wish war didn’t exist. I wish income disparities didn’t exist. I wish we didn’t need prisons. I wish the bullies and proud were put in their place. I wish denominationalism didn’t exist. Yet I find many christians being dismissive/cavalier or nihilistic and/or accepting of these things as if they were God’s original intent…
I understand Bell’s concerns…
LikeLike
I miss MIchael a great deal as well, and I am glad that his work and memory is being continued here at the imonestary. Thanks for the Ken Ham article. I help moderate an Old Earth Creationist website and Ken Ham’s Answers in Genesis has been less than generous for years toward those who disagree with them, even going so far as to question how we can call ourselves Christians. It’s telling when even your friends begin telling you what others have been saying for years. If history is any example however, Ham will don the hair-shirt and a rather strong fund-raising letter can’t be far-off.
LikeLike
Martha, I am shipping a box of serpents your way. It will be marked “books” to get it past any anti-snake customs officials. You might want to start with handling the smaller garter snakes before working up to king and corn snakes. I had an Egyptian cobra who wanted to make the trip, but the officials at the Bronx Zoo found him as he was packing…
LikeLike
Arising out of a point raised on another blog I frequent, can anyone give me advice on an urgent matter of spiritual import?
If handling snakes is a way of proving one’s sanctification, what about those of us who live in places unprovided with snakes? Does this mean that we are either destined for eternal bliss and our lack of snakes denotes the same (e.g. that Ireland is like Eden before the Fall), or that we are destined for eternal damnation, and our lack of snakes denotes the same?
Did St. Patrick do us a disservice by banishing the serpents? Was he really an agent of the Devil? Is it necessary for mass importation of venomous reptiles, or will our politicians do as a substitute for the same?
What should I do: consider moving to our next-door island, where there are indeed snakes: the grass snake, the smooth snake, and the poisonous adder or viper? Hell or England – what kind of a choice is that?
😉
LikeLike
That’s hillarious! Gotta laugh about this stuff, or it will drive you mad.
LikeLike
Seems appropriate. Considering that anyone who disagrees with Piper becomes a damnable heretic, maybe “Highway to Hell” would be good theme music.
LikeLike
After Lakers coach Phil Jackson called Sacramento a “cow town” (kind of hypocritical from a guy who grew up in North Dakota), Sacramento Kings fans started the tradition of bringing cowbells to the games (especially when the Lakers came to town) and raising an absolute racket. Good times!
Sadly, this tradition is likely to be lost, as the Kings may move to Anaheim as soon as this summer. Oh,well, sic transit gloria mundi …
LikeLike
We were headed back to Butterfield’s Sunday morning, but Vic wanted to try Chompies. It was good, but not as good as Butterfield’s. I wanted another glass of fresh juice!
Glad you had a good birthday. Love your city! Maybe someday I will live there…
LikeLike
Most of the time that points to my neighbor across the street…but thanks!
LikeLike
I miss Michael as well. One year since he died, and coincidentally, it’s also the sixth anniversary of Pope John Paul II.
May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
LikeLike
Well, hello, dear IMonk friend, and hopefully, new Butterfield’s fan! I’m still carrying around the extra calories from my carmelized bananas. Thanks to you guys, my birthday started off beautifully!!! And now, I think I should take my Bible to my favorite bakery and study the Word. Maybe God will open my eyes to something I haven’t seen before. ( ; Hugs to you and Vic and Dave.
LikeLike
Nice pool and hot tub Jeff! Google Earth. Yeah I’m bored.
LikeLike
Ah Rick, we will still explore those issues, just not in Saturday Ramblings. We need the space for the weekly John Piper mention…
LikeLike
You just did!
LikeLike
Eagle, that is a great idea. Anyone who wants to send a card to Denise can send it to me and at the end of the week I forward them all unopened to her in Kentucky. You can send them to:
Jeff Dunn
9742 S. Lakewood Ave.
Tulsa OK 74137
Write at the bottom of the envelope, “For Denise” so that I know not to open it.
I’m sure this will encourage her greatly. Thanks, Eagle.
LikeLike
What? No birthday shout out to Angus McKinnon Young???
LikeLike
Please don’t make this a Bell free-zone. Many issues and questions have come up from this situation:
– what is orthodoxy?
– how and when should Christians respond to certain situations and teachings?
– what questons are being asked by our culture?
– what are the healthy and unhealthy ways to to answer those questions?
LikeLike
Jeff…it would be nice if there was a way we could send cards or chip in for flowers. The first anniversary is hard, I still struggle with my grandmother’s death so does my Dad. He can’t delete her number from his cell phone. I just want Denise to know that she is loved and not alone duirng this painful time. Is that something that we can do?
LikeLike
Ted someone needs to hold John Piper’s feet to the fire 😀 After all isn’t he the “fundegelical Pope”? The end all, be all for all questions in life? It’s like what CM said last week or so…evangelicals are addicted to answers…there’s a lot of truth in that statement.
LikeLike
Not that I don’t appreciate Jeff…
LikeLike
Great link. It’s been a stressful week here, and it was just what I needed.
LikeLike
Yes. Keep reading and participating here at Internet Monk. Denise wants what Michael started to continue to grow and continue to encourage those who find a home here. Your being a part of this family is a great blessing to Denise–and to all of us who work to keep the iMonastery a fun place to be.
LikeLike
Is there anything that those of us who do not pray can do for Denise and family?
LikeLike
His review reminds me of SNL Gilda Radner’s Emily Latilla that there was to much violins on TV .
http://www.hulu.com/watch/2364/saturday-night-live-weekend-update-emily-litella-on-violins-on-tv
LikeLike
I went to Stations a couple Fridays ago, and they used the Reproaches of Good Friday as part of the liturgy. Here’s a portion, for the edification of the iMonastery:
For your sake I scourged your captors
and their firstborn sons,
but you brought your scourges down on me.
My people, what have I done to you?
How have I offended you? Answer me!
I led you from slavery to freedom
and drowned your captors in the sea,
but you handed me over to your high priests.
My people, what have I done to you?
How have I offended you? Answer me!
I opened the sea before you,
but you opened my side with a spear.
My people, what have I done to you?
How have I offended you? Answer me!
I led you on your way in a pillar of cloud,
but you led me to Pilate’s court.
My people, what have I done to you?
How have I offended you? Answer me!
I bore you up with manna in the desert,
but you struck me down and scourged me.
My people, what have I done to you?
How have I offended you? Answer me!
I gave you saving water from the rock,
but you gave me gall and vinegar to drink.
My people, what have I done to you?
How have I offended you? Answer me!
For you I struck down the kings of Canaan.
but you struck my head with a reed.
My people, what have I done to you?
How have I offended you? Answer me!
I gave you a royal scepter,
but you gave me a crown of thorns.
My people, what have I done to you?
How have I offended you? Answer me!
I raised you to the height of majesty,
but you have raised me high on a cross.
My people, what have I done to you?
How have I offended you? Answer me!
LikeLike
Nice going, Eagle, getting in the weekly Piper reference. Rob Bell is banned from Saturday Ramblings; Ken Ham from conferences 🙂 but John Piper is still kickin’ here at iMonk.
I miss Michael too. I think Jeff was too easy on Ken Ham…
LikeLike
“We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.” – from Saint Francis’ stations of the cross.
LikeLike
I still the best review of the week for Love Wins, falling as it does on April 1, is by Don Miller. See: http://donmilleris.com/2011/04/01/my-review-of-love-wins/
LikeLike
I miss Mike Spencer!!! Good news about Ken Ham, and love the review by Greg Boyd. I’ll have to read more from Boyd. Even though I know some Piper fans who think Greg Boyd is a heratic… Oh well you can’t please everyone….
LikeLike
I’ve got a fever, and the only prescription is more cow bell!
In honor of this skit, my daughter introduced the cow bell to her university ultimate frisbee team for some sideline inspiration. She has now graduated and bequeathed the cow bell to the team. The cow bell lives on!
And separately, I am really looking forward to your series on stations of the cross and Denise’s post on Tuesday.
Bon weekend to everyone at the i-monastery.
LikeLike