I have my newest article up on Patrol Magazine. It is joining in on a discussion happening between a couple of the writers at the magazine concerning ways to approach this oil crisis. My opinion? Stop trying to destroy BP. Why? Read on to find out. And please, give comments; I’d love to know what you all think. Here it is:
I have an original blog post I’m working on for tomorrow, but for now, I’ll promote my most recent article on Patrol Magazine. It’s about a book I’m currently reviewing for Thomas Nelson publishers (full disclosure: they sent me the book for free). It’s about the struggle I’m having after finding out that this otherwise enjoyable book is written by an author who is pretty crazy. How? Well, just read on. Patrol even made it a cover story today, so I’ve provided the cover story picture as your link to the article. Enjoy. And leave comments!
You can read all my articles for Patrol right here.
Another week, another article in Patrol Magazine. This week, I wrote a response to my article two weeks ago, “Jack Bauer Must Die“. The response was needed because, as the title of my current article implies, the series finale of 24 happened and Jack did not indeed die. Here’s the link:
Once again, just as the last article, this article isn’t even so much about the show itself as it is about what this show, and it’s ending says about our culture and what is profitable. Please comment freely here and on Patrol. I’d love your thoughts. You can view all of my past articles for Patrol Magazine here. [p.s.-starting next week, I’m changing my blogging philosophy, which will result in a very different feel for this site. More to come.]
Last year I gave a seminar/lecture/sermon thing at my old church, Epiphany Fellowship. The topic I spoke on was Beauty. I spent about nine months doing research, reading, talking, and thinking before ultimately delivering it last August. After the break is the full “Table of Contents” for each part of the blog series I did going through each individual part of the manuscript. Those blog parts have not yet been updated. Here are the the updated full written Manuscript, the audio of my “lecture”, and an appendix with the Greek/Hebrew breakdown of the words for “Beauty” in the Bible.
I hope this brightens your day and makes you laugh. Out loud. At my expense. Enjoy.
My original title for my article this week for Patrol Magazine (before the editorial chopping block) was I’m Calling It: Jack Bauer Will Die (On Morality & “24”). The article concerns the television series 24 and it’s upcoming series-ending finale. My theory? They’re going to kill Jack Bauer, the show’s iconic main character. Read the article to find out my reasons why:
It’s far more philosophical than “televisional”, so don’t worry. I did not intend to bog people down with plot minutiae and spoilers. Speaking of, as far as spoilers go, there are only a couple concerning very recent episodes of the current season, and even though are fairly nebulous. Besides, how the story is told is just as exciting (if not more) as what the story is.
Hey, this is one of those posts I have to put up every couple of months apologizing for not having updated things around here on the blog. As anyone that reads this site knows, I don’t really do “personal” posts very often. Sure, most every article is timely and has some sort of inspiration within my life, but the resultant product is still more “essay”-y and “article”-y. This is just the way I am, and I’m fine with that. But with the immanent demise of my “online magazine” (post on this forthcoming), I might have a place to put those “essays” and “articles” thereby reserving this space for “posts”: you know; quotes, links, quips, thoughts, witticisms, and the like, updated more than once a day. But as I parentheticized earlier, all this will be talked about in the next week or so. On to the personal stuff!
This past weekend I moved into my new place in South Philly.
photo from Wired Science
Well, my article for last week on Patrol took a little longer for me to submit it than usual so it only just got posted. The article has to do with the recent situation involving Bruce Waltke, formerly of Reformed Theological Seminary. The article is in response to a recent post by Rick Phillips of the site Reformation21, whose mission is “Encouraging biblical thinking, living, worship, ministry, and constructive cultural engagement.” I believe the articles written by Phillips (and others) reacting to Waltke’s situation do not fall into any of those parameters set by that mission statement. Here’s the link:
“If You Believe in Jesus, the Resurrection, & Evolution, You Are A Heretic”
Also, something that might be of interest to some, the article contains a very surprising and substantial list of names (and links to sources) of Christians throughout history whose view of Genesis either explicitly or implicitly allows for, encourages, or would have allowed for theistic creation by means of Darwinian evolution. Check it.
You can see all of my past articles for Patrol here.
I’m not married. I don’t even see it on the imminent horizon for myself. But it’s something I’ve waited for, have tried to prepare myself for, and have written my fair share of poetry about throughout the years (here’s a sampling of my passion for it, my confusion about it, my fears about it, and my desire for it). The Westminster Bookstore is having a 48 hour sale ending at 3pm on Friday, April 16th.
There are two books that this sale affects, but there are three books I’m mainly talking about in this post, so don’t stop reading until I get to the third. The main book being promoted in this sale here is Paul Tripp‘s new book, What Did You Expect?: Redeeming the Realities of Marriage. The second book is not a new one, but it is one of WTSbooks’ “favorite books on marriage”, and that is John Piper‘s This Momentary Marriage: A Parable of Permanence.
[photo by David Schrott]
Well, this week’s Patrol article was interesting for me to write. This past week, Michael Spencer, also known as “The Internet Monk“, died from cancer. I had no idea how much it would affect me. Really, for the past few months, I hadn’t even been keeping up with his site. In fact, a good friend was the one that told me Spencer had died — I didn’t even read it on the site.
But it really has messed with me. When you read my article, know that just writing it and getting it out there was part of my healing process. I really am okay, especially now that I’ve put my struggles and frustrations into words. As Spencer says in the email exchange I wrote about:
Some people live the Christian life in the mode of happy clappy. Others live it in lamentation. Disturbance. Some of those write it out to process it. That’s me.
That’s me as well. And this article was how I processed his death. Here’s the link:
“Gone Too Soon: An Email Exchange with Michael Spencer” — Patrol Magazine
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Scotchful Thoughts on Treason & War
You’re stronger than Scotch, though that’s not what my throat urgently screams at the moment. Ah, the struggles of an artist, a mystic, one whose deep cries out for yours – to express the inexpressible. To package in words that which can’t be contained. You’ve caringly — lovingly, even — taken me, torn open my chest, pulled out my heart, and have affectionately run my broken body into your knee such that I am torn in two
_____– one spirit, one flesh:
All of reality stands at this heralding moment:
_____Wide-eyed, eager – youthful
_____anticipation abounds.
Hands on knees looking forward, rocking back
_____so on and so forth they watch:
_____smiles ear to ear.
Continue reading
This week marks the most important week of the entire Christian calendar. It’s Holy Week; the time we meditate upon Christ’s Passion — the last week he spent in Jerusalem during the Passover preparing to be the true and perfect Passover Lamb. This is also the final week of the Lent season. For weeks now we have celebrated the angst, tension, and pain of Lent. This has been a time where we have focused on the fact that we have not yet become who we will be, and we still live in much of that old way of life. This has been a time where we look our idols in the eyes, hear their whispers and discern what they have been promising us and what we have believed they can give. Love. Security. Affirmation. Rest. We seek all these things under the sun, but all these things find their Source beyond.
I’m having blogging withdrawal. So sorry. I’m still trying to find my rhythm with the new job. I have several articles I’ve slowly been working on and others that I was working on, only to have the “moment” pass before they were done. This is particularly true of some political articles I’ve been thinking through. Just when I get an idea for a political article, the proper time passes before I’m actually able to get the thing written and published. So once again, sorry.
But, I’m not slacking on my writing for Patrol Magazine. Here’s the new article:
As I said last week, I am the new Thursday blogger for the site. My first article went up last week, and it was on Christopher Hitchens’ brother, Peter Hitchens. This week’s article concerns a David Bazan show I went to early this week and some things this show taught me concerning my own spirituality. So read and feel free to comment!
Channeling my inner stereotypical-broken-hearted-teenage girl, I went to WaWa last night to pick up some Ben & Jerry’s (Stephen Colbert’s “Americone Dream”, in case you were wondering. I’ve written before about the spiritual experiences both B&J have brought me.). I had just gotten off work and was about to head home, pig out, and catch up on some TV. I pulled in, got some gas, and then pulled up to the side of the actual store to get my ice cream.
I saw the usual “poor guy” sitting on the pavement on the side of the building asking everyone that passed by for their spare change. The usual little battle happened inside my mind: Oh God, I’m going to get asked for money aren’t I? Okay, what walking path can I take that keeps me just far enough away from him that he doesn’t actually ask me. I’d rather say nothing than have to say no and feel bad later. Ah! What am I thinking! Stop it, Paul! Why are you so heartless? This is not the Gospel. Serve him.
Sorry things have been so slow this week on the blog. I’m still trying to find my rhythm for writing while I have this new full-time job.
As of late last week, I am the newest writer for the blogs at Patrol Magazine. Patrol is a great site putting forward some of the best writing available on culture, the arts, and spirituality from the perspective of post-everything twenty-somethings. I am the Thursday contributor to “The Scanner” section of the site. The Scanner is the place for “daily culture, media, views, and blather.” Today, my first article went up. Here’s the link:
Poetry is the Only Thing That Can Save Atheists, Says Other Hitchens Brother
I’m really excited and grateful to have the opportunity to contribute to one of my favorite sites. Like I said, you can see my writing every Thursday there on Patrol Magazine. As I continue writing, you can see all of my articles here.
Does anyone have any ideas for future posts?
[Art above: “The Last Judgment” by Rogier van der Weyden. Just read the article. It’ll make sense.]
the long way home 