Still tweaking the new look. Mike is doing most of the heavy lifting, as usual.
EDITED TO ADD: The drop down menus don’t work well in the new IE. They do in the older versions and in Firefox. Any other browsers that are having trouble? Anyone NOT using Firefox?
I have several inter-connected goals for the new year regarding reading.
Anyhow, anyone want to join in the fun and read/review more in 2007? If several people do, perhaps I can make a little graphic and we can check in regularly. If not, I will go it alone ;o)
Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith is the first book by Rob Bell, pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids and featured speaker in the NOOMA videos. I read straight through it today and was genuinely surprised at how much I liked the book. It is an excellent call for Christians to think outside the box of cafeteria evangelicalism and to live a life that fully embraces God in all its aspects.
My prejudice against the book was based on my limited exposure to Bell. I saw one NOOMA and I wasn’t that impressed and I recall hearing faint rumors about his “bad theology.” Honestly, I didn’t find his theology to be bad upon reading. Arminian at points, but certainly within the bounds of orthodoxy and also more precise than most emerging writers. (The statement of faith of his church can be found here.)
Velvet Elvis is not a memoir. It does include a lot of personal stories and has a personal tone, but it has a flow and purpose. It’s a book that wonders about the vastness of God, how little we can understand. It’s a book that encourages readers to reflect about their own faith. It discusses the main points of the Christian faith in a way engaging to a postmodern generation, particularly those who grew up in the church, both the accepting and the cynical.
Rob Bell is not a messianic Jew, but he has a healthy obsession with setting the Bible in its original context. I think many readers will glean interesting insights from what he writes about Jesus’ world. Bell certainly wants to be relevant, but he also demonstrates a commitment to the truth. Personally, I enjoyed his endnotes because I love seeing what books authors like enough to cite, Bell certainly passed my test in that department.
I wouldn’t say Velvet Elvis was life-changing for me, I’ve read enough from the emerging church that I am over that bubble in some respects, but I certainly think it is helpful and would recommend it to people who are curious about the emergent church, suddenly aware of their obsession with systematics and apologetics and also young people who are wondering about the faith they grew up with and the culture they are discovering in the rest of the world. (8/10, borrowed from my sister Janelle.)
WATCH over thy child Alexine, O Lord, as her days increase; bless and guide her wherever she may be, keeping her unspotted from the world. Strengthen her when she stands; comfort her when discouraged or sorrowful; raise her up if she fall; and in her heart may thy peace which passeth understanding abide all the days of her life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Yesterday I had a migraine. I have only had a handful in my life, and I’ve been able to sleep them all off in less than eight hours, so I know amongst migraine sufferers, my burden is light. I still hate migraines.
It starts with nausea. I have a particularly weak stomach, so migraines aren’t the first thing I think of when I get nauseous, but it’s never a great sign.
Then the headache starts. I take something over-the-counter. It doesn’t help. Sounds become amplified, piercing. The distant whistle of the train becomes a dart, the chime of the car door ajar, a knife, the dog next door, a bullet. The cascading pings of the shower against the glazed metal of our tub make me wonder if tile is quieter, or those prefabricated tub/shower units. I consider scrapping our beloved clawfoot.
Lights induce pain so great I wince. I need immediate darkness and quiet. I get angry at my family for sharing this house. I hate to hear Kate giggle. I resent the new words of Lexi that I delighted in, was so proud of, just hours before. Then the house empties. At last, silence. Sleep comes slowly. I will wake up new.
I’m done designing other people’s Christmas cards (I guess, I’m not closed for orders and I can rush ship it and have everything to someone in 4 business days…) so I finally did ours. It’s different than the ones in the portfolio, for the sake of surprise. I should be addressing envelopes but I’m searching intensely for a car. Oh, well. They’ll be out before Christmas eve.
ISO dependable family vehicle.
Mike’s car’s engine died so my car needs to be his and we need new family wheels that can take the frequent trips to North Carolina. Has to be big enough for carseats and cargo but good on fuel economy (so wagons are preferable to minivans at this point). Email us if you’ve got a lead!
ETA: We may be ready to make the minivan jump, and I’m serious about keeping your eyes peeled. Especially if you are in Alabama, Georgia or the Carolinas!
The Faculty/Board Christmas party was Friday night and we got a sitter and partied the night away, enjoying good wine and food, tequila and smoking out on the porch (Mike), lots of great conversation and a ride home in the back seat of a police cruiser.
Yes, we rode home in the back of a police car. The one we were driving broke down at 11:35p about a mile and a half from home (timing belt) and since it was 25 degrees outside, we called our local PD for a ride so we didn’t freeze our toes off and we could get the sitter home. We discovered lots of new and interesting things such as the fact that the doors in the back of a police car can only be opened on the outside. Never a dull moment when we’re around!
