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The Jevlir Caravansary

Category: Christianity

  • Christian Carnival Reminder

    The next Christian Carnival will be hosted at Brain Cramps for God.  Submissions are due by midnight eastern time (US) today.  Next week (August 5) the carnival will be hosted here.

  • Pastoral Candidate

    [This is a work of fiction.*]

    Vernon noticed the arrangement of the room. As manager of a regional chain of restaurants, he was used to reading the way a meeting was set up and evaluating peoples’ attitudes.

    It was hard to be precise about the five men sitting across from him. He saw eagerness and uncertainty in nearly equal measures. He was surprised to notice some fear and hostility as well. He didn’t see any reason for it. These five men could decide on their own who they would invite to be pastor of this church, and there was no threat he could hold over them. Not that he wanted to!

    “Vernon,” said the chairman. “It’s OK if I call you Vernon, isn’t it?”

    “Sure Mr. Wilson,” said Vernon. “You knew me when I was in the nursery around here!” He chuckled, both because he was relaxed, and because he wanted the members of the board to relax.

    “OK, Vernon, I think I’ll get right to the point. We’re wondering why someone like you, who hasn’t been to church for over 10 years, thinks he is qualified to become pastor of this church.”

    Vernon was surprised. “I think we’re working under some misapprehension here. I thought you had invited me here because you were considering asking me!”

    “So you didn’t send us your resume? You didn’t ask Mrs. Thompson to deliver it to us?”

    “No, I didn’t . . .”

    “Well, then there is a misapprehension!”

    “I was going to say,” Vernon continued, “that your mentioning Mrs. Thompson explains what happened. She visited me the other day and told me she believed God was still calling me to be a pastor. Then she discussed her son’s resume, and … I’m not quite sure how it happened … but she walked away with mine as an example. When you called, I assumed she’d talked you into inviting me to talk.”

    Everyone was grinning now, even Gerald Adams, the senior member of the church, who was known never to smile. It was just a slight grin, but he clearly was amused by how they all had been had.

    “So, do we actually have anything to talk about?” said both Vernon and Tom Wilson at nearly the same time.

    The silence that resulted had a couple of board members laughing, while a couple of others were trying to restore dignity to the meeting.

    “Well, Mr. Wilson . . . ”

    “Call me Tom,” said Tom Wilson.

    “OK Tom,” continued Vernon. “I think I need to answer your question. The reason I think you should consider inviting me to be pastor of this church is that I agree with Mrs. Thompson. I believe God is calling me here, and it’s time for me to quit sailing for Tarshish.”

    It took some of the men a few moments to get the reference, but to their credit, they did.

    Tom appeared to be trying to gather his thoughts. “That’s a good answer, and I admit I hoped you’d give a good answer. We could really use someone with your skills to try to revive this church. We just don’t have the numbers we had when you were a child.”

    He paused again for a long time, but Vernon could tell that he wasn’t finished. Finally, he continued. “Here’s the problem. I know that you’re smart enough about finances to know you’d take a pay cut to take this position. With an MBA on top of your M.Div, no doubt you could command a much larger salary than we could offer even if you went to pastor at another church.”

    “I won’t be taking a salary.” Tom’s words stopped all sound in the room.

    “No salary?” asked Tom.

    “No salary.”

    “How are you going to live?”

    “I’m actually going to demand much more than a salary.”

    “Just what do you mean?”

    “Do you mind if I give you a fairly long explanation? I’d like to make clear what it is I’ll provide and what I’m going to ask of you. I also want you to understand why.”

    “Take your time,” said Tom.

    “You may regret that!” Vernon paused a moment, making sure he had everyone’s attention. He was used to doing this sort of thing to rooms full of management trainees, but it was hard for him to do it with these men who had been the pillars of the church in his youth. They were the people he had learned to respect as a child and young person. You might not like them, but you didn’t ignore them.

    “Some of what I’m going to say is going to sound insulting, but I’m asking you to hear me out.” He wouldn’t have said that to management trainees. He just would have given them the facts, and then used a combination of good humor and biting challenge to bring them up to standards.

    “If I looked at this church as a branch of my company,” he continued, “I would have to rate it as a failure. I’d probably suggest closing it down and opening another store serving the same market. The reason is that this particular branch has a reputation to live down, and employees are stuck in a losing way of doing business.”

    “As evidence, let me point out that your membership is half what it was when I last attended your church. The Board of Elders has only one new member, and the average age has gone up by 10 years in those same ten years. Finally, though you’re searching for a pastor, you have only had one interview, and he decided he didn’t want the job.”

    “You’re wondering how I know all this. I know it because I’m a businessman, and I find such things out from habit. I’m thorough. I looked at my old church as I would have looked at a business.”

    “Here’s the problem: When I looked at this church as a business, it looks terrible. Hopeless. No point. I can’t live on any salary you could reasonably offer me. It’s not even close. I couldn’t live on your entire church budget. That has a great deal to do with choices I’ve made since I left seminary, but I’m stuck with the results of those choices.”

    “You’re all good men, and I believe you love the Lord. That’s why you’re still sitting there while I’m telling you things are hopeless. When I had all the numbers together I decided that I wouldn’t bother to talk to you, because there was no point. But I couldn’t shake that sense that I was being called.”

    “So I started to pray. Then I started to read. I read the gospel of Mark. I read 1 Corinthians. I read Ephesians. I read Philippians. Finally I went back to Ephesians 4. Then I had my answer.”

    “But before I could call you and talk to you, you called me. Mrs. Thompson was busy helping God out!”

    “So what is this solution?” asked Tom.

    “First, let me ask you a question you’re not going to like. Why is it that I see five men before me, but the entire work of the church is being done by the women?”

    “What do you mean?” broke in Gerald Adams. “You aren’t suggesting we should have women on the Board of Elders, are you?”

    “Well, I work with women on committees in my business all the time, and it works out quite well. But no, I was actually planning to challenge you with something much harder.”

    “What is that?” asked Tom.

    “I’m challenging you to bring your level of service up to your level of leadership. You will need to work according to Mark 10:44: ‘… whoever will be first among you will be servant of all.’”

    “How many of you have visited one of the church shut-ins during the last week?”

    “My wife does that,” muttered one man.

    “Good for her! But do you think God wants those visits done only by the women? What about Mr. Jefferson. He’s 93 years old, but he can still carry on a pretty good conversation if you pay attention. I went to visit him yesterday, just so I could see what it feels like. I’m sure he appreciates the older ladies of the church bringing him flowers, but he’d really love a conversation with one of you men.”

    The business evaluation had been something they could take easily. They knew it all, and this, Vernon was someone they had known as a child. They could pretend to be grading him on his work. Now he was under their skin and it was making them angry.

    “I know this is not what you want to hear, but if the men of this church joined the women in visiting people in need, it would make a tremendous difference in this community. More importantly, it would make a tremendous difference to each one of you. Why? Because you would be doing what Jesus told you to!”

    “But let me ask you another question. How many of you have spoken to someone else about your faith during the last week?” He paused. “Nobody? You are believers. I know you are. You do work out there in the real world. I know you do. So what is the problem? Do you not think the gospel is important?”

    “And before you get too angry, let me confess that I didn’t share with anyone either. I can talk about being a backslider at the time, but I still believed; I was just frustrated with the church. I guess I didn’t think it was that important either.”

    “So here’s what I’m going to propose. I think you’re angry enough to throw me out of here. But I also know that you’re honest men and that you know your Bibles.”

    “I’ll become pastor of this church. But I will do it part time and for no salary. I’ve been supplementing my income by consulting and teaching seminars. I’m going to give that part up. Instead, I’m going to teach right here at this church.”

    “But there’s a condition. Every person in this room is going to become a servant along with me. I’m going to operate according to Ephesians 4:11-13. I’m going to equip. You’re going to equip. We’re all going to be teachers. But as we lead we’re also going to be servants.”

    “From what I hear you really believe I have been called to do this. I believe I have been called. You wanted a pastor to do all that visiting, to reach the people of the community, and to bring in young people. You’re going to do all that, and I’m going to teach you how.”

    “Now you can throw me out, and continue on the path to stagnation and death, or you can choose to answer the call to ministry–as a church.”

    Vernon sat there and looked from one to another of the men. He waited for them to respond, to tell him to leave. If they did that, he could go with a clear conscience. But he felt in his heart, more desperately than he had when applying for his first job, the desire to have them say “yes.”

    Finally a voice broke the silence. It was Gerald Adams.

    “Son,” he said, “you have made me madder than I have been in at least 20 years. I could go whip your butt as a disrespectful, arrogant young pup.” He paused, gathering his thoughts. “Problem is, Jesus did say what you said he did, and you’re right. So mad as I am–and I’m still mad!–I want you to be our pastor.”

    It only took moments for the rest of the men to agree. After all, nobody argued with Gerald Adams. Jesus, maybe, but not Gerald.

    * In a story dealing with theological issues, no character represents my own view. My short stories are intended to raise and discuss issues, not provide answers to theological questions.

    **This story came to me while I was editing The Jesus Paradigm by David Alan Black, just released by my company, but Dr. Black is not to be blamed for my ideas or attitudes.

  • Christian Carnival CCLXXXVI Posted

    … at Thoughts and Confessions of a Girl Who Loves Jesus.

    I will be hosting the Christian Carnival here on August 5, 2009. The intervening July 29 carnival is at Brain Cramps for God.

  • Christian Carnival CCLXI Posted

    … at The Ignorant Historian.

  • Added the Christian Fantasy Review to Blogroll

    As I was very belatedly catching up with the Moderate Christian Blogroll, I added The Christian Fantasy Review. It looks so interesting I had to add it specifically to my blogroll here. Be sure to go check it out.

  • Jeremy Pierce on Christians and Sci-Fi or Fantasy

    Jeremy Pierce has a good piece on Christians who enjoy science fiction and fantasy. I particularly appreciated his clear statement that entertainment itself is a value, that we don’t only read fiction for some educational purpose or other, but that it can simply be relaxation and entertainment.

    He says:

    So you don’t need to think of fiction as revelation in any important sense to think that it provides an occasion for something that can be productive. It’s bad if it distracts from more important things, as is true of any kind of enjoyable activity. At the same time, a little rest and relaxation, especially if it engages aspects of our thinking that we don’t otherwise use, is part of being productive in the long run. . . .

    Go read the whole thing.

  • I Want My SUV!

    [This is a work of fiction, and is part of my God-Talk club series. For more information follow the link. Also, I promised in my last God-Talk Club story that the club would discuss prophecy some more. This isn’t that post. I’ll get to it–soon, I hope. In another departure, this post was inspired by this one by John Meunier, rather than merely from my overactive imagination. This is also known as being “inspired by” a true story, in the Hollywood sense.]

    “I have a question for you god-people,” said Bob. He had been tense ever since they started gathering, as though he had something important to say or ask.

    “OK, spill it,” said Mandy.

    “I just really don’t understand how you religious types live with it,” Bob continued.

    “Live with what?” asked Mandy.

    “Well,” said Bob, “Last night I was watching TV and this televangelist came on. I don’t know why, but I started watching this guy for awhile. He made a call for people who wanted prayer, and then he launched into his fundraising. He told his audience that if they gave God money, God would reward them 10-fold or even 100-fold. He even did the math for them. If they gave $1,000 to his ministry–I don’t recall when, but he switched from ‘give to God’ to ‘give to me’ somewhere in there–they’d get $10,000 or even $100,000 back. He even had a story of a retired lady on a fixed income–that’s how he said it–who sent her last $1,000 to him, and then received back $10,000 from an insurance settlement she hadn’t expected.”

    “Wow!” said Mandy.

    “What a charlatan!” Jerry added.

    “Just can’t trust those preachers,” said Mac, winking in turn at Mark, Justine, and Jerry.

    “What I’m wondering,” Bob continued, ignoring all the byplay, “is what happens if some old lady–elderly, that is–sends him her last $1,000, and then nothing happens. You all know that’s much more likely than that she’ll get a $10,000 insurance settlement.”

    “What I’d like to know is why it’s an old lady. Why not an old gentleman? You’re not a male chauvinist pig, are you Bob?” Justine was just a bit annoyed!

    “What does that matter? It’s the fraud I’m talking about!”

    “What if the preacher means it?” asked Mandy. “I mean, what if he honestly believes that everyone who sends him money will get back multiples?”

    “Then he’s insane!” said Jerry, raising his voice almost to a shout.

    “I’m not defending him, Jerry. But don’t you or I have beliefs that someone else might regard as insane?”

    “Like what?”

    “Well, for example, I think we both believe that some guy was crucified back in Roman times, and his body came back to life, right?”

    “And you’re comparing that to claim God will multiply money someone sends to a charlatan preacher?”

    “Well–” Justine paused a moment. “Well, other than the charlatan part, isn’t multiplying the money less of a miracle than resurrection? It’s not impossible, is it, by miracle standards, that is?”

    “No,” said Jerry slowly. “It’s not impossible. But that’s not the point. God never actually promised to multiply our money.”

    “Yes he did,” said Justine, but both Jerry and Mandy ignored her. [Though it’s not discussed in this story, Justine is thinking of Matthew 19:29.]

    “That’s really not the issue,” Mandy continued, “Is it? The question is whether the guy who claims it will happen has to be insane.”

    “The problem there,” cut in Mark, who was sitting on the edge of his seat, “Is that this guy surely has to know that people are getting screwed all the time, that they aren’t all getting 10 or 100 times their money back.”

    “But I think that’s not quite the point either. We all ignore many, many things that we ought to know. If we were guilty of fraud because of what we ought to know but don’t, we’d all be in serious difficulties!”

    “On the other hand,” said Jerry, “This man is a preacher, claiming to be a minister of the gospel. He should know. If I were a financial advisor and advised my clients to send me money because it would be multiplied, even if I stupid enough to really think that my investment would produce that much, I’d be charged with fraud, because as financial advisor, I should know.”

    “That’s a good point,” said Mandy. “I’d really like to be able to get a guy like that for fraud. He makes me sick. But you also have freedom of religion. I believe that God wants me to put my tithe in the offering plate at church. I believe that God will save my soul and take me to heaven. I’m not really supposed to see it as a quid pro quo, but am I not basing giving thousands of dollars a year to my church on something that is totally unproven?”

    Mark jumped in again. “But you don’t have proof that it doesn’t work, do you? This preacher has evidence available to him that you won’t get the multiples of your money.”

    “No, not true,” said Justine. “There is good evidence that most people won’t get the money, but unless he’s lying about his one elderly donor, then somebody did get the multiple. Of course, all things considered, he might be lying about that.”

    “But there is no proof, or even evidence, that there is a connection between the two events!” Bob was emphatic.

    “But that’s again different from the evidence against everyone getting something. We know that not everyone gets the money. We don’t know that anyone will, but we don’t know for sure they won’t or even that they didn’t already.”

    “So you’re willing to give this guy more credit than the others do.” Bob Norman looked straight at Justine. “I thought you might. I’ve looked into your church, and you’re much more ‘miracle’ based than these other folks.”

    “On the contrary, I think the man is a huckster, and it would be fine with me if he was hauled off to jail.”

    “But you believe God can multiply.”

    “Can, Bob, can. Can, not will. There’s a big difference. I never teach anyone to believe that God will function like a slot machine. There’s a blessing, but it’s often not in this life. If you don’t like giving money that will probably not come back, then don’t give–at my church, or I suspect at Mandy’s or Jerry’s.”

    “Precisely,” said Jerry. Mandy nodded.

    “Doesn’t this embarrass you?” Bob looked straight at Jerry, the respectable businessman of the group.

    “Yes it does. It makes me wish I could disappear into a hole in the ground. But at the same time, I know that man’s faith is not my faith. He’s a fraud, but that doesn’t make me a fraud.” He paused a moment. “Or even Justine, though I think she plays awfully close to the fire!”

    Mac mimed holding a revolver and blowing smoke from the barrel. “Close one, Justine, no?”

    “Jerry’s a true believer,” said Justine. “He tries to avoid it, but deep down he really believes.”

    Jerry had his mouth open, but Bob got in ahead of him. “I still really don’t see it. Wouldn’t the safest thing be not to accept things that are not properly supported by objective evidence? It seems a bit like gambling to me, only with much less likelihood of reward.”

    “Well, it might seem like gambling to you, but to me, it’s just part of my relationship with God.” Justine spoke in pretty definite tones.

    “If I was into my religion for the money, I’d get out,” said Mandy.

    “Amen!” said Jerry. “I’m here for the spiritual benefit.”

    “I don’t get this ‘spiritual’ stuff. How is it measured? How do you know it’s true?”

    “It’s not measurable,” said Mandy. “It’s faith.”

    “And that’s where it’s bogus,” said Mac. “Bob’s being nice to you guys, but I want to ask you, Mandy first: Do you think I’m a worse person than you are?”

    “No, absolutely not,” said Mandy.

    “So what’s the benefit of all this ‘spirituality’?”

    “I think a better question would be whether I’d be a worse person without it. I think I would. Be worse, that is.”

    “Do you think I’d be better if I was spiritual like you?”

    “I think you could do with cutting off some rough edges, since we’re being direct, but I don’t prescribe spirituality for others. It’s a personal thing.”

    “I bet Jerry doesn’t agree with you.”

    “Indeed I don’t!” said Jerry. “Sometimes I wonder about you, Mandy! How can you believe in Jesus as your savior and not be sure he’s right for someone else?”

    “To be more accurate, Jerry, I believe it’s not my business to prescribe what is right for someone else. If my husband were wearing that tie, I’d tell him to change it. In your case, it’s not really my business–well, except for illustration!”

    “More of this subjective stuff,” Bob cut in again. “You always retreat into the subjective. So how do you deal with a fraud in Christianity? If I want to know whether a preacher I see on TV really represents ‘true’ Christianity, how can I tell?”

    “Well, to start with, he’s on TV,” said Jerry.

    “That’s silly, and you know it!” replied Bob. “I can tell you the guy is a fraud because he’s proposing a magical process to multiply your money. You can only respond with other subjective stuff. There’s really no way for a non-Christian to know! Yet you don’t want me to blame you for the frauds on TV!”

    “It takes discernment,” said Justine.

    “Or perhaps just wisdom and good judgment,” said Mandy.

    “On the other hand, we could all just go with the evidence! How about that?” said Mac. Then she looked at her watch. “Oops! Got to go.”

    [Watch for more discussion when the God-Talk Club gets together again.]

  • Christian Carnival #213: Bookstore Edition

    And no, this is not an edition designed to sell books, but rather according to sections of the bookstore. I had several ideas for this carnival. One was to call it the “Complete Confusion Edition,” after the server problems of yesterday, but God is not the author of confusion, so I thought it better not to name the carnival after the other guy. Then I thought of using just fiction categories, since this is my fiction blog, but I suspect I might be accused of bias regarding posts placed in say a Fantasy or Horror category.

    Thus, I’m going to use the rather open-ended bookstore edition. I’m also going to quote some texts from the Lenten lectionary readings with each category I create. Before someone asks, these are my own translations. I use my them a great deal both because I generally do draft a translation of any text I’m studying, but also because of copyright considerations, given the large amount of scripture quotation I do.

    Finally, why is this on this blog? Well, I won’t have fully restored the Participatory Bible Study Blog until somewhat later today, and I don’t want to delay that long. Originally, I had just one blog, Threads from Henry’s Web, which also suffered a nasty day yesterday, and I divided it into three to keep from inflicting things on my readers they weren’t so much interested in. Threads now contains politics, social issues, and generally religion and society issues, Participatory is for Bible study, and is usually where I host, and this blog, Jevlir Caravansary, is for playing around with fiction, both reviewing books and such writing as I attempt.

    So, welcome to the Bookstore Edition!

    Biblical Studies

    1The hand of YHWH grabbed me and took me by the spirit of YHWH and set me down in a valley. The valley was full of bones. 2He made me pass over them all around, and there were very many of them all over the valley and they were very dry.

    3And he said to me, “Human! Can these bones live?”

    And I said, “My Lord YHWH, you know.”

    4And he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, ‘Oh dry bones, hear the word of YHWH! 5This is what YHWH says to these dry bones, “Look! I’m bringing breath among you and you will live! 6And I will put sinews on you and I will bring up flesh on you, and I will cover you with skin, and I will give you breath and you will live and you will know that I am YHWH.”’”

    7So I prophesied as I had been commanded, and there was a sound while I prophesied and a clatter, and the bones were gathering together, one bone to another. 8And I looked and sinews were placed on them, and flesh rose up on them, and skin on top of that, but there was no breath in them.

    9And he said to he, “Prophesy to the breath! Prophesy human! Say to the breath, ‘This is what the Lord YHWH says, “Come from the four winds, oh breath, and blow into these dead bodies that they may live!”’”

    10So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath went into them, and they lived and they stood on their feet, and very, very large crowd. — Ezekiel 37:1-14

    Ali presents Jesus in Genesis 3. posted at Kiwi and an Emu.. Types and hints and parallels of Jesus in the Fall.

    Weekend Fisher at Heart, Mind, Soul, and Strength presents The Son of God and the sons of God, looking at all the people and groups called “son of God” in Scripture and finds that Scripture keeps using that phrase, and it means more than we think it means.

    Richard H. Anderson presents Rewriting Abraham posted at dokeo kago grapho soi kratistos Theophilos.

    Update: I forgot my own entry! I present Testimony – John 4:39-42 discussing the impact of the testimony of the woman at the well. We only need to bring them to the point where they can hear from the Master. We don’t have to have all the answers ourselves. (As you will see below, I also forgot my wife’s entry–bad me!)

    Christian Living

    24They called the man who had been blind again, and they said, “Give glory to God, we know that this man is a sinner.” 25Then he answered and said, “I don’t know if he is a sinner or not, but I do know one thing: I was bind but not I see.” — John 9:24-25

    Jennifer in OR presents A Habit of Peace posted at Diary of 1. I’m trying to replace my worrisome habits with habits of peace.

    the bloke presents There are only three types of soil posted at …in the outer…. a re-reading of the Parable of the Sower within the context of Mark 4 provides insight into the lessons that we can glean from this very familiar story. The question to ask is not so much “Am I the kind of person represented by the seed that fell on good soil?” but a slightly different question that helps us to direct our attention at the areas in our lives that need attention.

    Ronnica presents Emotions are Nothing to Get Emotional About.

    Health

    Life. Money. Development. presents Diet Tips for Preventing High Cholesterol Levels posted at Life. Money. Development A neat collection of diet tips for keeping cholesterol in recommended levels.

    Jody Neufeld presents Depression . . . Win, Lose, or Draw, discussing what depression is and a Christian response.

    Money

    FMF presents How To Take Market Turbulence In Stride posted at Free Money Finance. Details appropriate Christian response to the recent stock market turmoil.

    Divine Guidance

    Chasing the Wind presents God’s Will Be Done Despite Us posted at Chasing the Wind. When we do God’s will, He blesses us. Or we can do it our way and make our lives chaos – but God will accomplish His will anyway. A study of Genesis 25-27 and Isaac, Rebekah, Esau and Jacob.

    David Porter presents Knowing God’s Will posted at A Boomer in the Pew.

    Marriage and Family

    Mark Olson presents Confusion and a Divorce posted at Pseudo-Polymath. Some thoughts on marriage and modern culture in the context of American political practice.

    Tom Gilson presents A Dying Man’s Demand for Definite Answers posted at Thinking Christian. In a widely viewed clip from the TV show ER, a dying patient was seeking forgiveness. He didn’t want maybe, didn’t want doubts, didn’t want what-ifs; he wanted certainty. What do we make of that kind of demand? Could anybody legitimately say they know the one true answer?

    Theology

    1Since we have been made right with God by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we also have access by faith to this grace in which we now live and we boast in the hope of God’s glory. — Romans 5:1-2

    Logic

    Rey from the Bible Archive, with nothing written this week, decides to include a poem about the One-Hoss Shay.

    Epistemology

    Chaplain Mick presents To Be, or not to Be – Futility of Human Thinking posted at Romans 15:4 Project. Two news stories caught my attention today and remind me of the futility of human thinking apart from God.

    Soteriology

    Ken Brown presents Inclusivism and the Atonement posted at C.Orthodoxy. If Jesus’ death was sufficient to save everyone, can it save even those who never hear of him?

    Rodney Olsen presents The Cross posted at RodneyOlsen.net.

    This week at Light Along the Journey John finishes his blogging through John Piper’s book Future Grace with the post God’s Glory & Our Joy.

    Jeremy Pierce presents Supererogation and Christian Ethics posted at Parableman. Some people think Christian freedom means there are ethical options, i.e. good things that we aren’t morally required to do. This post argues against that view. Morality requires being perfect, as God is perfect.

    Matt Rawlings presents A Brief Break from My Vision for a Church to a Dialogue with Luther posted at River City Redemption Project.

    Apologetics

    Elgin Hushbeck, Jr. asks Is Christianity a Religion? Is telling people that Christianity is a relationship, not a religion, an effective response?

    Church

    35Jesus heard that they [the religious leaders] had thrown him [the man born blind whom Jesus had healed] out, and he found him and said to him, “Do you believe in the son of man?”

    36He answered, “And who is he, sir, so I can believe in him?”

    37Jesus said to him, “You have seen him! He is the one speaking to you!”

    38He said, “I believe, Lord!” And he worshiped him.

    39Jeus said to him, “I have come into this world for judgment, so that those who don’t see might see, and those who see might become blind.”

    40Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said to him, “We aren’t also blind, are we?” 41Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin. But because you say, ‘We see,’ Your sin remains.” — John 9:35-41

    e-Mom presents Why Men Hate Going To Church posted at C h r y s a l i s. Where are all the fathers? Discussion includes quotes from David Murrow (Why Men Hate Going to Church) and Leon Podles (The Church Impotent: The Feminization of Christianity), plus a previous commentor.

    William Meisheid presents Lent 2008: Day 16 – Weekend Warriors posted at Beyond The Rim…. A few thoughts about how God gets the short end of our efforts during the week and how we try to make up for it on the weekend.

    Peter Anderson presents The Bible and tithing: To give or not to give – Part 1 posted at Bible Money Matters. A post series talking about tithing and whether or not is biblically commanded to tithe. I will look at both sides of the issue, and then talk about my own feelings on the subject.

    Thom presents The Miracle of Dirt posted at Everyday Liturgy. Thom comments on the recent NYT article about a small desert sanctuary in New Mexico famous for its miraculous dirt.

    Christian Fiction

    Annette presents Tiger Soup posted at Fish and Cans. Though perhaps not a Christian article, the author is a Christian and I thought it might be fun to share a bedtime story I made up for a little boy with lots of stuffed cats, one of which is called “little cat”.

    Final Note

    If you were left out, it is almost certainly inadvertent. I only left out one submission intentionally, and that poster should consider that this is not the swim suit and lingerie carnival. So if there’s nothing on your blog that would make me say that, and your post isn’t here, put a link in a comment and I’ll promote it into the post as soon as possible.

  • The God-Talk Club – Voting I

    [This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters, places, or events to reality is strictly coincidental. It is also part of a series. Characters who have been introduced in previous episodes will not be re-introduced. You can find a list of characters from episodes up to this one here.]

    Only four members of the God-Talk Club had gathered this evening. They were Mark Morton, who was taking a break from studying for a test in his systematic theology class, Jerry Simonson, more determined than ever to reach Mark with the gospel, even though Mark was a seminary student, Mandy Kelly, who never missed her prescribed break from home life, and Justine Reeder.

    “How is it that I never see you studying?” Mark asked Justine.

    “Oh, I study! I just don’t do it here.”

    “But I never see you studying on campus either.”

    “You never see me on campus.”

    “I have too seen you. A couple of times. I just never see you studying or in class.”

    “I know,” said Mandy. “She’s so smart she doesn’t have to study!”

    Justine looked embarrassed, but didn’t say anything.

    “If you don’t mind my asking,” said Mark, “What’s your GPA?”

    “I do mind you asking,” Justine replied. “I think that’s rude!”

    “I bet it’s so high you’re afraid we’ll think you’re boasting,” said Mandy.

    Jerry looked embarrassed. One of his problems with this group was that he was very courteous. It was hard for him to get his viewpoints taken seriously in this group without being blunt, and to be honest quite rude. “How about the election? Have any of you decided who to vote for?”

    There was a moment of stunned silence at the obvious change of subject, then Mandy laughed. “Yes, Grandpa! We’ll settle down and be a little less rude,” she said.

    “I didn’t mean that.” Jerry paused. “Well, I suppose I did. But I’d still like an answer, if anyone is willing.”

    “Why don’t you go first?” asked Mark.

    “Very well,” said Jerry. “I’ll be voting for Fred Thompson in our primary.”

    “Do you think he still has a chance?” asked Mark.

    “I don’t know, but I think he best represents my values—smaller government, private education options, and pro-life.”

    There was another long pause. Jerry looked from one face to another. Had he stepped over a line with these folks by asking their political views?

    “OK, I’ll go,” said Justine. “I’m voting for Barack Obama.”

    (more…)

  • Christian Carnival Posted

    The latest Christian Carnival has been posted at Ancient Hebrew Poetry.