Derek Webb and his new band brought the “I See Things Upside Down” tour to a small bar/club in Lexington, Kentucky on Sunday night, and I was fortunate to be there for a wonderful show. Webb is a former singer/songwriter in Caedmon’s Call, leaving last year to make his own harder-edged, more theologically “out front”Continue reading “Derek Webb and Band: The Dame, Lexington, Ky, 11/14/04”
Category Archives: Commentary
Ted Rall: Answering questions no one is asking
I’m just curious. When I read a piece like Ted Rall’s anti-red state, anti-middle of the country, anti-populist, pro-elitist, pro-east coast liberal manifesto, did I , uh….miss something? Listen to this: So our guy lost the election. Why shouldn’t those of us on the coasts feel superior? We eat better, travel more, dress better, watchContinue reading “Ted Rall: Answering questions no one is asking”
Beyond the bizarre and the arbitrary: How I became pro-life
“Doctors should not be aborting fetuses at a stage at which another doctor “operating under a different set of instructions” could give that same baby a reasonable chance of leading a full and healthy life.” Charlotte Edwardes, undercover reporter for the London Telegraph, who revealed how the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, the U.K.’s largest abortionContinue reading “Beyond the bizarre and the arbitrary: How I became pro-life”
A Secular Victory for Religious Fundamentalists: Chris Hitchens gets it right
Glory Hallelujah. Pass the offering plate and someone say “Help me, Jesus!” Revival has arrived, and the evangelist is my favorite atheist, Christopher Hitchens. So here is what I want to say on the absolutely crucial matter of secularism. Only one faction in American politics has found itself able to make excuses for the kindContinue reading “A Secular Victory for Religious Fundamentalists: Chris Hitchens gets it right”
A Contrarian Manifesto for the Church Growth Debate
I have been in a lot of debates about the current worship and church revolution known as the seeker-sensitive, Purpose-Driven church. I’ve stated my case, taken on the other side, and come back to argue the same issues again and again. Today, I felt as exhausted with this discussion as a person could feel. SoContinue reading “A Contrarian Manifesto for the Church Growth Debate”
Greatness and The Passing of Uncles
My uncles are almost gone. Uncle Charlie’s cancer has returned. My Uncle Joe is nearly blind. My dad’s last brother no longer knows anyone, and you’d never know he was once the seemingly indestructible pastor of my youth. Slowly, they are growing older. Too rapidly, they are going away.
Subcultural Spirituality or “I know he’s a Christian because I saw it on his bumper sticker.”
One of the axioms of my critique of evangelicalism is this: methodology creates theology. By this I mean that when evangelicals have adopted particular methods, such as the evangelistic sales pitch or the powerpoint designed sermon, they will soon develop an accompanying theology, generally morphed in the direction of justifying and spiritualizing what they areContinue reading “Subcultural Spirituality or “I know he’s a Christian because I saw it on his bumper sticker.””
The Drug War Out My Window
One day last week, the government helicopters flew so low over our little village in eastern Kentucky, they shook the house. For most of half an hour, they buzzed around the three creeks that come together into a river right below us. They are looking for drugs, as they do every summer. This is partContinue reading “The Drug War Out My Window”
Vote Utopian!: The Christian in a Quandry
Imagine Jesus lived in a republic, and could vote. There are several candidates running for Governor of Galilee. The two candidates with the most support are Publius, who wants slavery to continue and expand, and Adrian, who wants many forms of slavery to be done away with, though not all. There are other candidates, likeContinue reading “Vote Utopian!: The Christian in a Quandry”
I wish I’d said that
This Real Live Preacher piece on the Bible is really wonderful, and I don’t have to agree with every word to say that. I’m sure there are recovering fundamentalists all over the place who could benefit from those thoughts. I can imagine the incident that must have prompted this sad and gentle rant, and theContinue reading “I wish I’d said that”
The Internet Monk Archives 